AMC’s Orphan Black sequel series is moving forward, officially bringing on a writer-executive producer. Orphan Black originated from Canadian studio Temple Street Productions, BBC America, and Bell Media’s Space, first airing in 2013. The series followed Tatiana Maslany as Sarah Manning, a genetically engineered human who also portrays many of Sarah’s clones. In the first season, she learns that someone is attempting to kill all of her clones, so they must band together to stop the menace.
Orphan Black originally ran for 5 seasons, going off the air in 2017, but not before garnering a sizeable cult following. However, in March 2019 it was announced that Temple Street was partnering with AMC to create a sequel spinoff to the series. News has come in a slow drip since that announcement, during which time a 10-episode audio drama titled Orphan Black: The Next Chapter aired, starring Tatiana Maslany once again and picking up her story eight years later. The already delayed production then was presumably put on hold during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Per Variety, the new season of Orphan Black is currently moving forward. AMC has hired Anna Fishko to write and executive produce the series, which has opened its writers’ room. Fishko began her career in the early 2010s as an assistant, then got her first credited writing gig on the Demián Bichir crime series The Bridge in 2014. She went on to write for and produce the series Tyrant, The Last Tycoon, The Society, and Fear the Walking Dead, the zombie apocalypse spinoff series that previously partnered her with AMC.
Plot details are thin on the ground, considering how early the writers are in the process of getting the show together. However, it has been confirmed that the series will take place in the same universe and timeline of Orphan Black, following the events of the series. However, it is unknown what characters – if any – will be returning from the original series.
It seems unlikely that Tatiana Maslany will be able to return for the Orphan Black sequel series in anything more than a cameo. Although the star is more or less synonymous with the series, especially considering how many characters she ended up playing, she is starring in Disney+’s upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe series She-Hulk. Her Marvel obligations will likely prevent her from being able to participate in any significant way, though fans will be able to see her skill in channeling multiple personalities continue in the character of Jennifer Walters.
