Due South co-star David Marciano, who played wise-mouthed Yankee mook to Paul Gross' do-gooder Mountie, tells me that may be so.
Although he's been advised by Toronto producer Alliance Communications that they may go back into production with the series, Marciano is obligated elsewhere.
"They're in negotiations with Paul and myself. They have the money. Everything's in place," Marciano says.
"The only wrinkle in the whole situation is I have a deal at CBS for a pilot. So I can't commit."
If CBS green-lights Marciano's new series, "that puts me out of the running for Due South."
If a decision to revive Due South is made before CBS decides on his pilot, he'd like to return to his Due South role of Ray Vecchio for two to four episodes, then see Ray sent on an out-of-town assignment to cover his absence.
"Then if the pilot should not happen to go to series, I could resurface and finish out the series. If my pilot does go to series, then I'm never coming back," he says.
In other words, Ray would be headed for a bad end.
Marciano remains enthused about Due South, which set ratings records in Canada and was also number one in France and Britain. Already a winner of seven Gemini awards, the effort to bring it back got a morale boost this month when it was nominated for this year's Geminis in its biggest category, best drama.
On his recent birthday, Marciano received dozens of well-wishes via one of the still-active Due South chat groups on the Internet. He was eager to expand on a storyline that began last season in which his real wife Katayoun played Ray's ex-cop ex-wife.
But the actor has harsh words for the show's working environment, particularly his relationship with its creator and executive producer, Paul Haggis.
"We had creative differences in a lot of areas. His method of working is totally opposite of my way of working. I work more organically and more collaboratively. I believe in honesty and integrity," Marciano says.
As for Gross, Marciano says that the rural-urban culture clash of their Due South characters is pretty much reflected in their real relationship as well.
"We're opposite people, that's all. It's not that there's friction. You know how you click with some people or you meet people and you go home and say, `Hey, I don't know why that guy rubs me the wrong way,' or `I just couldn't make a conversation with that person for some reason?'"
With him or without him, he'd like to see Due South live on -- and has no illusions that his departure would mean its demise.
"I think it could still be a very good show. NYPD Blue was still a success when David Caruso left. Cheers was still a very large show when -- what was her name? -- Shelley Long left."
With or without Due South, Marciano isn't about to disappear into the category of the difficult-to-recall. He's featured in Mario Puzo's The Last Don, this spring's Mafia miniseries.
PHOTO: DUE SOUTH ... Paul Gross, left, and David Marciano.