The future of "The Big Bang Theory" remains a mystery, with CBS execs saying that the network is still trying to figure out whether or not to will renew the hit sitcom.

During an appearance at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour this past weekend, CBS Entertainment president Glenn Geller said in an interview with Deadline that the network was still "in negotiations" with the show's creative team. According to the trade, sources say the show's cast has not started negotiations over new contracts yet.

Those contracts will likely be the biggest hurdle to a "Big Bang" renewal, since the main trio of Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, and Johnny Galecki are all making $1 million an episode, a jaw-dropping sum that will be hard for CBS to beat. The negotiations for those contracts, settled three years ago, initially caused a delay in the production of season eight of the series, and similar negotiations this time around could put a pause on a hypothetical season 11, too.

"It is business as usual," Geller told Deadline of the production schedule on the current 10th season of the show. "These are going to be, I think, the normal tough negotiations when [you're] in a situation like this but we are guardedly optimistic."

It's certainly in CBS's best interest to keep "Big Bang" on the air, since it's still pulling in record-breaking numbers for a scripted series, averaging over 20 million viewers per episode (with live+7 data factored in). Bazinga, indeed.

[via: Deadline]