‘Orange Is The New Black??’ Renewed For Three More Seasons On Netflix

Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black gets three additional seasons, reports the Guardian. Orange Is the New Black is one of the biggest tentpole shows on the streaming service, so it is no surprise that Netflix intends to keep it around for a few more years — especially since the cast recently won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

OITNB showrunner Jenji Kohan commented on the season renewal in a humorous fashion.

“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,” Kohan said in a recent statement. “Here’s to keeping it interesting.”

https://twitter.com/Savage937/status/695671940439261184

OITNB has already earned a total of four Emmys, including two for actress Uzo Aduba for her incredible performance as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren. The Netflix series has also won an Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series in 2014, and Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series in the same year, along with two AFI Awards for TV Program of the Year in 2014 and 2015.

“The theme thing was hard this year,” Jenji added. “We start with political agendas, the corporatization of the prison, the stratification of people into their little mosaic groups. We want it to be a surprise, but [you can expect] all the fun stuff like race and hate and some things from current events that we wanted to filter through our lens.”

Taylor Schilling, who plays Piper, started out as the main, central character when OITNB first debuted, but in seasons 2 and 3, the character has taken somewhat of a backseat to the multitude of other colorful characters. Throughout her journey, the character has become more and more unlikable, with Kohan saying, “I think Piper’s definitely on a journey. We work through the vicissitudes of likability.” According to Kohan, she had always planned on that character getting less screen time to highlight the other characters and their individual stories, with the intention of it being a true ensemble show.

Netflix’s vice-president of original content, Cindy Holland, was very enthusiastic about the three-season renewal of OITNB. Holland went on to say that Kohan, the writers, and the producers of the series have crafted a “phenomenal and impactful series,” stating that they are “eager to see where three more seasons will take them.”

The @OITNB fandom right now! #OITNB #3moreseasons pic.twitter.com/8Fm6yoxbsP

— WendyGirl ???? (@OITNB_Daily) February 5, 2016

Orange Is the New Black lasting until at least its seventh season is also no surprise, considering Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos confirmed that the series is the most-watched show on the streaming platform. In the wake of #OscarsSoWhite and the current conversation on diversity and inclusion, OITNB stands as one of the most progressive television shows running today — if not the most.

“To have a show that prioritizes the stories of women of color, older women, queer women… that’s one of the best things about it,” says actress Laverne Cox, who plays the character of Sophia on the show. Laverne Cox was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series at the 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards for her performance. This nomination makes Cox the first openly transgender actor or actress to be nominated for an acting award in the Emmy’s entire history.

Orange Is the New Black Season 4 airs on Netflix on June 17, 2016. Actress Dascha Polanco says that, “Season four will push the envelope to the next level.”

[Photo via Jojo Whilden/Netflix]