‘Sons of Anarchy’ Season 7: Kurt Sutter Talks Extending the Series

FX biker drama 'Sons of Anarchy' hasn't maintained the same critical following by its sixth season that it enjoyed during the inaugural few years, but series creator Kurt Sutter maintains that the series will still have life in it through the current sixth, and projected seventh and final. That said however, would Sutter consider extending the series through an eighth season, given the massive ratings 'Sons of Anarchy' gives to FX?

Speaking at a recent Academy of Television Arts and Sciences event, Sutter told reporters that his vision for 'Sons of Anarchy's' seventh and final season remains the most viable outcome, its projected length partially based on Sutter's experience with 'The Shield,' though he remains open to conversations about extending the series if the winds blow that way.

There’s so many factors that determine whether a show continues or not. I came up with the initial awareness that if this show was being done in sort of the same production model that The Shield was in – and I knew that The Shield had about seven seasons. And I knew that at that point the show ultimately begins to eat itself and becomes more expensive to make. So I thought if we could get a full run I could tell the story I wanted to tell in seven seasons. And I knew by the end of this season I’d have a sense of whether or not I’d be able to do that, and I still think I can.

But look, I think if I got halfway through this season or at some point next season I felt like I couldn’t finish it, I’d probably be able to have a conversation with the network. [But] I think after seven seasons I don’t know if we can maintain the rhythm and the pace that we’ve done, and I wouldn’t want to extend it and have it become something that it’s not. So my plan is still to finish it out in seven.

We're in agreement with Sutter that it would be best to end the series on its own terms after seven seasons, even if FX affords the motorcycle drama extended episodes, or even an extended season as '50 Shades of Grey' dropout and series star Charlie Hunnam recently offered up about the shooting schedule.

What say you? Would you want 'Sons of Anarchy' to continue for additional seasons past next year? Check out the latest preview for this week's episode below, and give us your take on future 'Sons of Anarchy' in the comments!