Lionsgate TV Considering “Potential Sequel” to Orange Is The New Black

Fans aren’t ready to say goodbye to Orange Is The New Black, and apparently, neither is Lionsgate.

Last month, Netflix announced that one of their longest-running original shows will come to an end in 2019 with its seventh and final season.

During an earnings call Thursday (per THR), Lionsgate TV Group chairman Kevin Beggs suggested a sequel series.

“We’re really proud of the long run that Orange Is the New Black had,” Beggs said. “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 [the show’s creator] Jenji [Kohan] about a potential sequel.”

Speaking to THR in July, executive producer Tara Herrmann revealed that the OITNB writers have been in talks about spin-off shows, including series centered on Larry Bloom (Jason Biggs) and Polly Harper (Maria Dizzia), or Cal and Carol Chapman (Deborah Rush). Rumor has it that even a Broadway musical was on the table at one point.

That being said, Herrmann would not endorse a spinoff before the main series comes to a close, since it would be like “robbing from the mothership.”

“We want people to pay attention to the show we’re making, not a musical number with Piper and Alex. But that could happen in the future, who knows,” she said.

Lionsgate hasn’t revealed whether the potential sequel would also air on Netflix, but the likelihood is high, since showrunner Kohan has an overall deal with the streaming giant.

With numerous other remakes and sequels (and even prequels, like Game of Thrones) in the works, talks of OITNB’s afterlife are not too surprising. Fingers crossed that Lionsgate follows through.