Netflix renews “Orange Is the New Black” hit dramedy for 3rd season

PanARMENIAN.Net - Netflix is going back behind bars. The streaming service has renewed critical darling Orange Is the New Black for a third season of 13 episodes, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The prison drama from Weeds exec producer Jenji Kohan has received its second early renewal, with Netflix granting another run a full month before its sophomore season bows June 6. (The show was similarly renewed for a second run weeks ahead of its series debut last year.)

From Lionsgate TV and based on Piper Kerman's memoir, the dramedy stars Taylor Schilling and Laura Prepon as exes who reunite behind bars following their decade-old personal and business relationship. Prepon's role was reduced during season two, with the actress expected to be back as a regular for season three.

Prepon and the writers first broke the news of the renewal on Instagram and Twitter, respectively.

The renewal comes as little surprise, with Kohan along with her cast of rising stars having been told unofficially that the series is Netflix's "biggest hit," multiple sources told THR.

Orange Is the New Black -- which just won its first GLAAD Award for outstanding comedy -- joins a rapidly growing Netflix slate of originals that includes the third season of House of Cards, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin comedy Grace and Frankie, Narcos, Sens8, Marco Polo and the fourth and final season of The Killing as well as Kyle Chandler family drama from the producers of Damages, among others. The streaming service is also readying four Marvel series -- Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage -- as well as the miniseries The Defenders.