Netflix has announced that Orange is the New Black has been renewed for seasons 5, 6, and 7, meaning the show will be releasing new episodes through 2019.
The streaming platform also revealed that creator and showrunner Jenji Kohan will stay in place as executive producer and showrunner for the newly-announced seasons.
Netflix has given their shows early renewals in years past, but this is the first time they’ve renewed a show for three seasons in one announcement. Multi-season renewals don’t happen too often across television, though HBO made headlines when they renewed Game of Thrones for seasons 5 and 6 in April 2014. Fox did something similar with Glee when plotting the show’s ending.
Multi-season renewals are part publicity stunt, part planning for the future. Behind the scenes, Jenji and Netflix may’ve agreed to wrap the series starring Taylor Schilling, Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, and Laura Prepon after season 7. As viewers, it’s hard to imagine how much story is left to tell in another 50 episodes.
Said Jenji in a press release: “Three more years! Not quite a political term, but still plenty of time to do some interesting things. In some cultures, ‘May you lead an interesting life,’ is a curse, but I don’t live in those cultures. Here’s to keeping it interesting. Thanks Netflix! Both thanks and you’re welcome Lionsgate! And kudos and gratitude to the stellar cast and crew and writers and producers and editors and musicians and mixers and shleppers… with whom I have the pride and honor of crafting this show. Three more years! Three more years!”
Added Cindy Holland, Vice President of Original Content, “Jenji and her team have produced a phenomenal and impactful series that is both funny and dramatic, outrageous and heartfelt. Audiences around the world have come to love the ladies and men of Orange is the New Black, and we are eager to see where three more seasons will take them.”
“We’re proud to continue our long-standing relationships with Netflix and the incredibly talented Jenji Kohan and delighted that one of the most acclaimed shows on television will continue on Netflix for three more seasons,” said Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs. “Jenji’s brilliant creative vision and a truly amazing cast have catapulted Orange is the New Black to the forefront of the platinum age of television, and we’re pleased that Orange fans around the world will be rewarded with another three seasons.”
The prison drama was Netflix’s third original series following House of Cards and Hemlock Grove. While Netflix doesn’t release viewership numbers, OITNB is believed to have been one of their most popular series.
Orange is the New Black season 4 premieres June 17. Check out a trailer below:
