Thirteen years after it first debuted, one of Netflix's earliest original hits might be getting a reunion movie. Natasha Lyonne, who played fan-favorite Nicky Nichols on Orange Is the New Black, recently hinted that a follow-up project could be in the works, reigniting hope for fans of the groundbreaking prison dramedy.
Speaking at the second edition of the Italian Global Series Festival, Lyonne shared her deep affection for the series and its characters. “Orange Is the New Black is going to get a little reunion movie or something,” she said. “Because I just love these characters and these tribes so much.” The actress also expressed a personal artistic ambition, noting she would be “frustrated with [herself] artistically” if she never directs a feature film before she dies.
Created by Jenji Kohan, Orange Is the New Black premiered in 2013 and ran for seven seasons, ending in 2019. It was one of the first shows to define Netflix as a streaming powerhouse, yet Lyonne recalled that at the time, the cast felt like outsiders. “Nobody believed in Orange Is the New Black until after it came out,” she explained. “That first season felt like we were doing something wrong, like we were kind of losers because we were on a streaming show. Nobody knew what Netflix was yet.”
That isolation from public opinion gave the cast and crew a unique creative freedom, Lyonne noted. “It was a really special time because we were so isolated from any public discourse or opinion yet, because people didn't even know it was a thing.” The show’s success eventually changed everything, but the journey was emotional. Lyonne recalled the final season: “Saying goodbye to Nicky Nichols, that last scene, we were all weeping. I was weeping. It was so emotional.”
During the later seasons, Lyonne was also developing another hit series, Russian Doll, which she co-wrote with Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler. Looking back, she marveled at how much life happened over the show’s run. “There were marriages, divorces, people got sick, people fell in love, fell apart. I started developing Russian Doll during it. There was so much happening, so much life.”
For fans eager to revisit Litchfield Penitentiary, all seven seasons of Orange Is the New Black are streaming on Netflix. While no official reunion plans have been confirmed, Lyonne’s enthusiasm suggests the story may not be over yet. Stay tuned for updates on a potential revival.
