‘Orange Is the New Black’ Gives Laura Prepon More Screen Time: Report
Laura Prepon might still be leaving Orange Is the New Black next season, but at least she’ll get more screen time than previously reported.
News broke this summer that the former That ’70s Show actress would be departing the hit new Netflix series; in September, Buzzfeed reported that she would appear in only one episode of the second season. Now the site’s sources are saying she will appear on four of the season’s 13 episodes. She will be shooting her scenes this week in New York.
How ‘Orange Is the New Black’ Became Netflix’s Best Series
The actress is also reportedly negotiating her involvement in the series’ third season. Given the plot of the show, in which the former girlfriend of Prepon’s character was sent to prison for trafficking drugs for her, it’s very likely she would be a recurring player in the story. When she originally signed on for the role, according to Buzzfeed, she was contracted only for one season. The site’s sources say that the storyline of Prepon’s character will now be more open-ended, which means appearances in the third season aren’t out of the question.
In addition to getting attention for its casting decisions, the producers of Orange Is the New Black are gearing up for the attention the show will receive in the imminent awards season. Since its much-hyped Netflix debut in July, the show has become the service’s most-watched original series, which makes it a contender for Emmy and Golden Globes nominations. Curiously, though, the show’s producers have been submitting it as a drama for awards consideration, according to TV Line, as opposed to a comedy (despite some very funny scenes). A Netflix rep provided no context for the decision.