Netflix has ordered a second season of "Orange Is the New Black", even before the series has premiered on July 11. The show is based on the book "Orange Is The New Black: My Year In a Women's Prison" by Piper Kerman. The television series is created by Jenji Kohan, who also made "Weeds".
Described as a comedic-drama, the plot of "Orange Is the New Black" revolves around Piper Chapman (played by Taylor Schilling) who is sentenced to fifteen months in prison for her involvement with a drug ring, and how she copes with the change from her comfortable life in New York.
"Jenji and her team have produced a phenomenal series and we're eager to get a second season to our viewers," said Cindy Holland, vice president of original content, Netflix.
"I am thrilled that Netflix has extended my sentence," said Kohan, who is also executive producer of the show.
In an interview on Examiner.com last week, Kohan elaborated on her decision to debut her show on the streaming service. "I want to be there first," she said. "It's the next frontier; it's how my kids are watching TV; it's how I'm watching TV. I remember how one of my writers on 'Weeds' had gotten a new apartment and didn't get cable and didn't get a DISH, just hooked his computer up to a TV, and immediately it was like, 'Okay, this is it; this is how it's happening.' And to be able to be there first, I love the pioneer thing. It's exciting to me. And you know, they pay full freight; they're really nice; they support the work; what could be bad?"
The decision to explore stories beyond the original season was also left open, even before the official announcement of the renewal. "If the room starts getting bored, or I [do], then we either have to change something in the show or maybe end it. I like the challenge of 'How can we stretch this out and where can we go with it?' because it's an open road, especially at Netflix; you can take it anywhere you want," said Kohan.
