The Orville season 4 gets a complicated but optimistic update. The Orville: New Horizon, the sci-fi show’s third installment, moved to Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. Its finale provides a sense of resolution while still keeping the door open to a continuation if the story is to continue. More than a year after The Orville season 3 finale, creator and star Seth MacFarlane is still maintaining hopes for a renewal.
In comments to TheWrap, MacFarlane clarified that no decision had been made regarding The Orville season 4. The creator and actor, who plays Captain Edward “Ed” Mercer, said in part: “All I can tell you is that there is no official death certificate for ‘The Orville.’” In the quote below, MacFarlane also offers some cryptic but potentially hopeful notes on the future of the sci-fi dramedy. Scott Grimes, who plays Lieutenant Gordon Malloy, likewise offers his perspective:
MacFarlane: “All I can tell you is that the the there is no official death certificate for ‘The Orville’. It is still with us. I can’t go any further than that at the moment. There are too many factors.”
Grimes: “I do know that we are still talking about it. It’s not dead in any sort of way whatsoever. It’s just about when, where and how and building the stuff again. I’m excited because it’s one of the greatest things to work on. So I just have my fingers crossed. And I know Seth wants to do it and that usually holds a lot of power. And I hope he gets to because it’s one of his babies that he just loves and it’s a blast to work on.”
The Complicated Status Of The Orville Season 4, Explained
There have been mixed messages regarding the sci-fi show’s future. During a recent podcast interview with Michael Rosenbaum, Adrianne Palicki struck a grim note about The Orville season 4. Palicki, who plays Kelly Grayson, indicated she was no longer attached to the show. When asked specifically if that meant that The Orville was canceled, Palicki cautioned that she didn’t know and elaborated more generally on the long gap between seasons 2 and 3 and what has become a long wait for season 4.
Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment president Craig Erwich gave a murky assessment of The Orville in January 2023, praising MacFarlane for his work on the sci-fi show and acknowledging the fanbase. However, he cautioned there was nothing new to share about whether the series would be back for more episodes. Since then, Hulu hasn’t been reluctant to cancel its originals. It has axed the acclaimed comedy The Great and the high-profile spinoff How I Met Your Father, but The Orville remains in limbo.
The Orville: Halston Sage’s Exit Explained
Xelayan chief of security Alara Kitan was a mainstay aboard The Orville until season 2, so why did actress Halston Sage leave the show?
Season 3’s farewell, fittingly titled “Future Unknown,” concludes with a ceremony. The ensemble is present for a wedding that allows several characters, including Alara (Halston Sage), to share a poignant moment. It serves as a satisfying send-off for The Orville cast without being definitive. But it’s clear, based on MacFarlane’s remarks, that he hopes to do more.
The Orville
- Release Date
- September 10, 2017
- Cast
- Halston Sage , Adrianne Palicki , J. Lee , Seth MacFarlane , Chad L. Coleman , Peter Macon , Penny Johnson Jerald , Larry Joe Campbell , Scott Grimes , Mark Jackson
- Genres
- Drama , Adventure , Comedy
- Seasons
- 3
- Story By
- Seth Macfarlane
- Writers
- Seth MacFarlane
- Network
- FOX
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu , Disney+
- Directors
- Jon Cassar
- Showrunner
- Seth MacFarlane
