Spoilers for 'Orange is the New Black' (OITNB) Season 3 have started emerging, as filming for the next season begins.
In the midst of production, photos from the Season 3 film set have begun emerging on Instalgram and Twitter as the cast began posting 'selfie' photos of themselves in prison garb. Buzzfeed collected and reposted the 'selfies', giving tantalizing hints of things to come in the upcoming OITNB season.
Even though Season 3 details are limited, there are still rumors surfacing from the web. Here is a brief rundown of the top spoilers that are making the rounds.
Laura Prepon is Going to Be a Season 3 Regular
Laura Prepon appeared in just four episodes of OITNB Season 2. Fans initially raised concern that Prepon's character might not be returning to the third season.
In an interview with Us Weekly last Sunday, the 34-year-old actor cited scheduling conflicts as the reason for her brief appearance.
"It sucked because [show creator] Jenji Kohan and I wanted me to be in it more, but with the schedule, it didn't happen," she explained. "I was so bummed out. But I handled it, so I'm in every [episode] in season three. It is so good."
Prepon previously won acclaim for her portrayal of Donna Pinciotti in the Fox sitcom 'That '70s Show', which ran a successful eight seasons.
For her role in OITNB, Prepon stars as Alex Vause - the dangerously intelligent and seductive drug dealer who is responsible for getting the show's protagonist Piper Chapman in prison. Vause and Chapman develop a rather dysfunctional on-and-off lesbian relationship in the Netflix original series.
'Pornstache' Has Been Replaced By His Mother in the Following Season
Litchfield Penitentiary's infamous George 'Pornstache' Mendez may not be coming back to Season Three. Pablo Schreiber, who plays the crooked prison guard, explained in a recent Vulture interview that he was already busy with other commitments.
"I'm a series regular now on a show called The Brink on HBO," Schreiber said in that report.
The 36-year-old added that Mendez's mother is making an appearance in Season Three.
"Mary Steenburgen has been cast as my mom," explained Schreiber. "I'm not sure what she'll do that will advance the Pornstache plotline, but for now, Mendez is in prison, biding his time."
Previously in Season 1, Mendez was placed on suspended leave after he is caught having sex with Litchfield inmate Daya Diaz.
Diaz was already made pregnant by John Bennett, who so happens to be Mendez's colleague. Other inmates find out about Daya's pregnancy, but are unaware that Bennett is the father. Seeking revenge against 'Pornstache', they convince Daya to seduce the Mendez in order to frame him for statutory rape.
The ruse works, and Mendez finds himself afoul of the law. When Daya's pregnancy is revealed to prison authorities, Pornstache ends up going to jail. Naturally, everyone except for Bennett and Daya assumes that 'Pornstache' is the father.
Just as he is being led away in cuffs, Mendez loudly declares his 'love' for Diaz - with whom he has fallen in love with during the entire affair. There are rumors that Pornestache's mother will try to claim custody over Daya's child.
Possible Season Three Release Schedule
It is still too early to know exactly when Netflix will launch 'Orange is the New Black' Season 3. Still, there are clues based on the release date cycle of the previous two seasons. Both Season One and Two of OITNB occurred in June. So, it is safe to assume that Season 3 will premiere at around this time if not later.
As of now, Season 3 is still undergoing filming. Hence, it may be long awhile before Netflix gives release date confirmations let along a teaser trailer. For now, the first two season of 'Orange is the New Black' can be watched in their entirety on Netflix's online streaming site.
Official OITNB Trailer from Season Two:
