The women of Litchfield will return to the screens of their fans for the final, seventh season of the popular show “Orange is the New Black” on Netflix. Fans are eager to find out what will happen next to Piper and the gang. So, when can you expect the new episodes to arrive on the streaming service and who will be in the cast for the final run? Read on to learn everything we know so far.
As of today, Netflix has not yet released an official release date for the final season. Previously, the series always arrived in either June or July, but the production on the seventh season finished in February of this year, so this time it could be later in the year.
Creator of the show Jenji Kohan shared a photo of the complete cast and crew of the show on February 26, which marked the end of filming. In addition, she had a message for the fans that read, ‘That’s a wrap’.
The other members of the team also shared their reactions to the ending, including the star of “OITNB” and “Russian Doll”, Natasha Lyonne, who wrote, “On the last shot, a guttural sound came out of me, like some wounded animal.”
Meanwhile, Kate Mulgrew posted Valentine’s Day-inspired message on February 14, her last day of filming the show, where she wrote, “Today is my last day filming OITNB. As Red bids goodbye to seven extraordinary years, Janeway lifts a glass and both blow kisses. Happy Valentine’s Day to all the captains and cooks who make life sizzle.”
What happened in the previous season of the show, and will Piper Chapman return?
The sixth season of the popular show served the fans a devastating finale, and ever since then, fans want more. Blanca was carted off to an immigration detention center, while Taystee fell for a murder that she did not commit while. Lastly, Piper received an early release, while the show made a statement regarding the racial imbalance in America.
The seventh season is set to follow Piper’s life after prison, as she tries to navigate the outside world and live a normal life, while other, less fortunate inmates, still remain inside of their cells.
Who is in the cast of Season 7?
Starts of the show Taylor Schilling and Laura Prepon will both be back as Piper and Alex after they had their wedding take place in the previous season. Schilling is confident that their union will survive the separation of their two characters. She said, “I think that’s the love of her life.”
Likely to reprise their respective roles are Uzo Aduba as the character Crazy Eyes, Danielle Brooks as Taystee, Laura Gomez as Blanca, Adrienne C Moore as Black Cindy, Natasha Lyonne as Nicky, Dale Soules as Frieda, Kate Mulgrew as Red, and Dascha Polanco as Daya.
Other new faces from Season 6 will come back, including Amanda Fuller’s Madison and Vicci Martinez as Daddy.
What about for Maritza, Soso, and Chang, who did not appear in the sixth season?
The producer of the show, Tara Herrmann, said, “If the story takes us there, it has to be organic for us. We never want to suddenly be in a world that we haven’t set up. But we love those characters and miss them as storytellers for sure, so we hope to always see them.”
Will Season 7 be the last, and are there any plans for sequels or spin-offs?
Unfortunately, this is the last season of the show. However, less than a month after this news was revealed, talks of a sequel began as well. Chairman of Lionsgate TV Group, Kevin Beggs, revealed the following:
“We’re really proud of the long run that Orange Is the New Black had. 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 [writer] Jenji [Kohan] about a potential sequel.”