‘Orange Is the New Black’ Season 4 Premieres June 17; Explores More of Kingpin Piper, Alex Makes Comeback

‘Orange Is The New Black’ has been renewed for a much-anticipated fourth season that is set to premiere on June 17. The new season will explore more on Piper’s evolution into a kingpin, while ex-lover Alex is set to make a comeback after season 3’s thrilling cliffhanger.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, season 4 of the critically-acclaimed comedy-drama series is scheduled to return on Netflix on June 17. Piper Chapman’s transition from season 1’s somewhat innocent yet spoiled and manipulative inmate into vicious kingpin was apparent in season 3 – especially after sending Stella (Ruby Rose) to Max when caught stealing from her.

Taylor Schilling, who plays Piper in the series, teased her character in the upcoming season. She said, “She’s becoming a little bit of a kingpin and has this swagger. But the feeling I always have about Piper Chapman is that she tries on everything like a piece of clothing — she doesn’t quite fit the jacket, but she tries it on. And I love that about her.”

She also admitted that Piper’s power-hungry climb to the top could also mean that she will fall harder than she ever did. According to Entertainment Weekly, Schilling said, “I think she took that and she ran with it… I don’t know if it’s necessarily helping her anymore. She takes things to extremes and tends to run herself into the ground.”

Meanwhile, according to Melty, Laura Prepon’s Alex Vause is set to make a comeback for the incoming season. The last moments in the preceding season’s finale found Alex confronted by one of the drug lord Kubra’s hitmen. The cliffhanger begged the question of Alex’s survival from a gunshot but it had been confirmed that Prepon is indeed alive and will make it to the next season.

Prepon teased, "I can’t give away any spoilers, but the way it was written, nothing is taboo for [show writer and creator] Jenji Kohan, We go there and push the envelope. It’s just so awesome."

‘Orange Is The New Black’ is a popular comedy-drama series created by Jenji Kohan based on the memoir authored by Piper Kerman entitled ‘Orange Is The New Black: My Year In A Women’s Prison’. It follows the life and relationships of main protagonist Piper in a minimum-security federal prison in upstate New York.

The television show is set to premiere season 4 on June 17.