We’ve got all the details you need to know about Orange is the New Black season 5 including Netflix release dates, casting, news from the set plus a recap and our predictions for the fifth season of the show.
Orange is the New Black, in case you haven’t watched the show yet, is a prison drama that features the female inmates of Litchfield. It initially began as a retelling of Piper Kerman’s real life story but has since branched off.
A Recap of Season 4
Season 4 was considered a return to form for Orange is the New Black. With the prison undergoing massive changes during the season (mainly severe changes), it reached breaking point towards the end with a mass protest which led to the death of Poussey. We leave the season with what is essentially a prison riot with Daya grabbing a gun and looking like she’s going to execute prison officer Humphrey who was escorting Judy King from the premises.
The season ends with all hell breaking loose and frankly, nobody here to pick up the pieces with many CO’s being either fired or leaving. Caputo is close to breaking point after having to find a way to cover up the death of Poussey and deal with the ever growing list of problems in prison.
OITNB Story
As we now know, season 5 will take place over the course of three days in Litchfield.
Season 5 Predictions
- Is Daya going to pull the trigger? That’s probably the most important prediction. My personal prediction is that she probably won’t pull the trigger, although something may happen that will cause her to seem like she pulled the trigger. Daya is fighting for her release to see her daughter and doing this would surely keep her prison in good.
- Will Piscatella keep his job? At this point, we’re led to believe that he’s on the way out but with the ongoing riot, will Caputo’s trust in Piscatella change? I think so.
- As for Judy King, we think she’s going to be either used as negotiating power by the prisoners (don’t forget, she holds a lot of press power here) or killed which will have even bigger consequences for the prison.
- Will the prison stay open? With it at breaking point and MCC seemingly unable to keep it under control, it may be the case that the jail is shut down altogether in season 5.
There are some more fantastic predictions in the video below.
Release Date for Season 5
To determine the release of Orange is the New Black is quite easy when compared to other Netflix Originals. The series has been releasing on a very strict yearly release schedule. Season 4 released on June 17th, 2016, Season 3 on June 11th, 2015, Season 2 on June 6th, 2014 and season 1 on July 11th, 2013.
With that said, we should expect an announcement or the first trailer to release in May 2017 with the full season dropping in June 2017.
Other Information for Season 5
Laura Prepon is directing episode 10 of the show
This will be the actresses first time directing the show and given the screenshot below; she’s going to be directing episode 10.
Lori Petty (Lolly) has said that she’s returning for Season 5
In an interview back in July 2016, Lori Petty who plays Lolly has stated that she’s coming back for season 5 although it’s not sure in which capacity. In season 4, we saw Lolly being moved to Psych ward which typically doesn’t get much airtime on the show.
Other returning characters
Thanks to Instagram posts we know that most of the main cast is staying such as Taylor Schilling (Piper Chapman), Laura Prepon (Alex Vause), Kate Mulgrew (Red), Natasha Lyonne (Nicky Nichols) and Danielle Brooks (Taystee). We’re also pretty much guaranteed to keep Elizabeth Rodriguez (Aleida Diaz), Jackie Cruz (Marisol Gonzales) and Lea DeLaria (Carrie Black) who were promoted to the main cast throughout season 4.
You can also probably expect to see more of Lavern Cox who will reprise her role of Sophia Burset as her character spent most of the last season away in the Schu.
Season 5 released early?
The series got hacked from Lionsgate and threatened to release the show early.
Future Seasons of OITNB?
If you’re worried about this season of Orange is the New Black being the last, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. The show was not only renewed for a fifth season back in February 2016, it was also renewed for a sixth and seventh season too. That likely takes us well into 2019 before the show may face cancellation.
What to watch in the meantime?
If prison dramas are your thing and you want something similar to Orange is the New Black, we suggest that you give both Prison Break and Wentworth a try. Wentworth in particular shares many similarities with the Netflix show but is a little more grittier than Litchfield.
