Netflix’s award-winning comedy series Orange is the New Black is here to stay: the streaming platform announced on Friday that the show has been renewed for three more seasons.

The three additional seasons will follow the fourth season, which debuts on Netflix on 17 June.

Jenji Kohan said in a statement:

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!”

Cindy Holland, Netflix’s vice-president of original content, added:

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.”

The news comes in the wake of the show winning big at the Screen Actors Guild awards on Saturday, where it collected the comedy ensemble award and the comedy female actor trophy for star Uzo Aduba – both for the second year running. Aduba has also netted two Emmys for her performance as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren.

 

Hands up who binged watched season three in a 24 hour sitting?

We did, and if you did too, there’s surely an Orange Is the New Black-sized hole in your heart. And you’re probably thinking: what now?

Don’t despair. The show will be back for it fourth season on 17 June.

But if that is not enough here are a few snippets to help fill-in the blanks until then.

Warning: spoilers ahead

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1. New prisoners

As you saw at the end of season three, busloads of new prisoners arrive at Litchfield, so clearly we’ll be getting some new cast members.

One who has been announced is Jolene Purdy (who has booked a recurring role). Though it hasn’t been revealed whether she’ll play a new inmate or another character.

There is also the arrival of Litchfield’s newest and most high-profile inmate, celebrity chef Judy King (played by Blair Brown), and this is going to lead to some big changes

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2. Alex is almost definitely alive

Season three ended with Alex facing off with one of Kubra’s assassins, implying that he’s about to shoot her

Actor Laura Prepon (who plays Alex), recently teased about her character’s role in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, announcing that Alex will survive the attack.

What’s cool is season 4 actually picks up right where season 3 left off. So it’s literally, it continues five seconds later, which is really great because at the end of last season…I was in the greenhouse, and there was all this craziness going on and it’s awesome.”

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3. Alex & Piper’s relationship is still as bump as ever

As for Alex and Piper, Prepon also revealed that her character has an “F you Piper” moment.

That’s their relationship, and that’s what’s so interesting about them. They love each other and they hate each other, and it’s frustrating and passionate, but there’s definitely some vindication there, for sure. Piper thought she was crazy all season, but she wasn’t.”

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4. Two queer stars have been promoted to series regular

Before season three even started, Jackie Cruz, who plays Flaca, and Lea DeLaria, who plays Big Boo, were promoted to series regulars. This means we’ll most likely be getting even more insight into Flaca’s and Boo’s lives – Yes!

Talking to Afterellen, Cruz said

Honestly, I get chills. I was a day player. I started with two lines. And my character just kept growing through the seasons. So Jenji just saw something in my character and was like, “We need more Flaca.” I think she told me that once, and they kept writing, and they liked it, so they kept writing more. So in Season 4 I became a series regular, so that was like kind of like a testament of my hard work and knowing that I did a good job. So I feel really good about that.

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5. Stella may or may not be back

Season three breakouts star, Ruby Rose – who played Stella – was sent off to a worse place (max) by Piper. Though that could have been the end for Stella on the show, Rose gave us hope saying “It could go either way” – which doesn’t confirm it, but really doesn’t deny it, either.

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6. There will be more Poussey and Soso – Go #Pousoso!

Poussey and Soso’s connection was just beginning at the end of Season 3, and they were all kinds of perfect together. In a recent interview with AfterEllen, Wiley hinted there is more to come for the potential couple.

I think we’ll see what happens with them. We get some screen time together. #Pousoso!”

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7. Taystee Has A New Job

In the first Season 4 teaser, Taystee is enjoying what looks like a sweet new desk job. Her new career in answering phones may have something to do with the major changes coming Litchfield’s way… either that or someone at the prison finally recognized Taystee for the boss sh

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8. There is a new cause

According to another report from TV Guide, the central issue that will plague Litchfield is prisoner overcrowding. Kate Mulgrew, who plays Red in the series, said,

[The overcrowding issues] are going to carry over to every nook and cranny in our prison, believe me when I tell you that.

What [creator Jenji Kohan]’s going to do that no other creator is capable of doing with such expertise is, she’s going to make you feel overcrowded,”

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9. New alliances are going to be formed all over the place

Nearly every actor has mentioned in interviews that Season 4 will feature “new alliances.” What does this mean exactly? It’s hard to say, but the new inmates who were shown arriving at the end of last season will certainly upset the natural balance of the prison’s groups.

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10. The odds of Nicky returning are strong

While it has not been confirmed, Screen Crush is one of several outlets reporting Natasha Lyonne, aka fan-favorite Nicky, is expected to return. Nicky was sent to max last season, and it was majorly upsetting. Everyone cross your fingers the rumors of her return turn out to be true.

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11. Sophia’s story is going to take some unexpected twists

Sophia Burset’s story in season 4 is “challenging” according to Laverne Cox. Speaking about season 4, she told E! Online, “It was a joy to play and I felt like I was pushed in ways that I didn’t anticipate and it was really challenging and that is always wonderful as an actress. I had a really good time.”

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12. More back stories are expected

Creator Jenji Kohan herself promised backstories for new people in an interview with E! Online. There will be backstories for characters who have already had backstory episodes as well, but anytime an unexpected character takes the spotlight, good things tend to happen. Maybe this will be the year Soso’s activist past is explored.

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13. There’s a new trailer out – YES!