Less than a month ago, it was announced that the upcoming seventh season of Netflix’s popular series “Orange is the New Black” would be its last. The series, along with the recently-wrapped “House of Cards,” is notable for being one of the first to put the streaming service on the map, as far as prestige original content goes. So, you’re probably curious why Netflix would let the series go, especially considering there’s no major drama forcing the show to end, a la “House of Cards.” Well, according to the studio behind the series, just being ‘OitNB’ is ending doesn’t mean an end to the franchise.
During a recent earnings call, Lionsgate TV Group chairman Kevin Beggs hinted that the end of the Netflix series means that there could be a possibility of a sequel down the line.
“We’re really proud of the long run that ‘Orange Is the New Black’ had,” he said (via THR). “It remains one of Netflix’s most-watched shows. We’re ending on a high note. Keep in mind we own that series and will be distributing it for years to come. We’re already in discussions and, when the timing is right, we’ll talk further with Jenji [Kohan, series creator] about a potential sequel.”
In this era of Peak TV, where studios and networks are desperate for hits that could garner awards recognition, “Orange is the New Black” is a franchise that’s just too good to let go. The same happened with “Breaking Bad,” which ended its incredible run and ushered in the prequel “Better Call Saul” (an award-winning series in its own right) and the upcoming sequel film. It’s also happening with HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”
Obviously, it’s far too early to speculate what a “sequel” to ‘Orange’ would look like. Fans still have to see where their favorite characters end up at the end of the series before looking at potential sequels. Perhaps the series would change its focus from the current crop of inmates to a brand-new set of actors? Or maybe, much like “Breaking Bad,” a sequel could put the spotlight on a popular side character and further explore their adventures?
At this point, it’s all on the table.
One thing is for sure, however, Lionsgate TV knows what it has with “Orange is the New Black” and isn’t keen on letting the hit series disappear forever.