Although "The Originals" season 4 is not scheduled to air earlier than the first quarter of 2017, it is now rumored that the vampire series' upcoming season will be its last, and earlier plans for its season 5 have already been scrapped.

According to rumors, "The Originals" season 4 will be the last for the series as the number of episodes of its upcoming season has been reduced. With this, observers now suspect that the series is headed to the chopping board as the same thing was done to its sister series, "The Vampire Diaries," whose number of episodes was, likewise, reduced before it was announced that its upcoming season 8 will be its last.

It was in last July's San Diego Comic-Con where it was revealed that "The Originals" season 4 will have fewer number of episodes as compared to its previous seasons after Phoebe Tonkin, who plays the role of Hayley on the series, disclosed that the upcoming season will have a more condensed storyline and will be fast-paced.

With the rumor saying that "The Originals" season 4 will be the last for the series, there are now speculations claiming that the series will end with the death of Klaus (Joseph Morgan) who will face an enemy in his weakened state.

Earlier, it was speculated that Klaus could die in the hands of his own daughter, Hope, whom he had not seen in five years. As Hope is the only character in the series who has the combined powers of a werewolf, witch, and a vampire, there is no denying that she will, indeed, be a force to reckon with and may bring about the death of his father.

However, it is also rumored that it may be Nina Dobrev's other "The Vampire Diaries" character, Katherine Pierce, who will cause the demise of Klaus and seal the series for good.

Is "The Originals" season 4 really the last for the series? Will Klaus really die in the upcoming season? If yes, who will cause his death: Hope or Katherine?

Answers to these questions and more will be revealed when "The Originals" season 4 begins airing in early 2017.