The inmates of Litchfield Penitentiary return June 17 with the Season 4 Orange is the New Black debut on Netflix. While Netflix has announced a premiere date for the original series, they have not announced the exact time all the new episodes will be dropped. And that’s likely to remain the status on the Orange is the New Black Season 4 release time.
Generally speaking, Netflix releases its original content (like House of Cards) at midnight of the release date in Pacific Time. That’s 3 a.m. for everyone on the East Coast. When it comes to Orange is the New Black; however, the release date and time are effectively pointless. Last year, Netflix dropped Season 3 ahead of schedule. The show was scheduled to release on June 12 at 12:01 a.m. PDT but Netflix surprised fans by debuting Season 3 six hours ahead of schedule.
Keeping this in mind, fans should expect the series at midnight PDT or 3 a.m. EDT on June 17, while staying on their toes for a potential early release. Netflix took to their Twitter account to announce the early release last year but it was actress Uzo Aduba, who plays Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on the show, who broke the news.
Season 4 begins right where the show left off: Litchfield has become privatized and the parent company calling the shots is looking to run a leaner operation, with inexperienced guards and more prisoners entering the prison.
"We start with political agendas, the corporatization of the prison, the stratification of people into their little mosaic groups,” said showrunner Jenji Kohan at the 2016 Winter TCA Press Tour. “We want it to be a surprise, but [you can expect] all the fun stuff like race and hate and some things from current events that we wanted to filter through our lens."
Fans of the comedy-drama series will be happy to know Season 4 will not be the last, as the show has been renewed for three more seasons with Kohan on board.
“Three more years! Not quite a political term, but still plenty of time to do some interesting things. In some cultures, ‘May you lead an interesting life,’ is a curse, but I don’t live in those cultures,” said Kohan in a statement. “Here’s to keeping it interesting. Thanks, Netflix! Both thanks and you’re welcome Lionsgate! And kudos and gratitude to the stellar cast and crew and writers and producers and editors and musicians and mixers and shleppers … with whom I have the pride and honor of crafting this show. Three more years! Three more years!”
