Orphan Black Set to Return with a New Series at AMC

Orphan Black is coming back… in a manner of speaking, anyway.

It appears that AMC is teaming with (original series company) Temple Street Productions to expand upon the canon of Orphan Black with a new series, reports Variety. While details about the project were not divulged, we do know that it won’t be a reboot or spinoff of the original series, which enjoyed an acclaimed five-season run from 2013-2017, having aired on BBC America in the U.S., the BBC in the U.K. and Space in the production’s native Canada.

The reason for the lack of details is rather simple: there aren’t any as of yet. The producers for the project are still at a point in which the only thing they know is that they’re looking to showcase an original story that’s set in the universe of the old series; meaning, don’t expect to see any familiar faces. For now, the producers are reportedly in the middle of a search for a writer, and are looking to hear pitches for different ideas on how to expand the existing canon of the original Orphan Black series.

The original Orphan Black showcased a story that proved unique in an increasingly-crowded television scene, depicting the ordeal of Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) a con artist who makes the shocking discovery that she’s one of many clones. After assuming the identity of a deceased doppelganger of hers, police detective Beth Childs, Sarah embarks on an investigation that leads her down a circuitous path of conspiracies, connecting with fellow clones – all with radically different personalities and life paths – Alison, Helena, Cosima, and Rachel, while learning about the reasons behind their creation and the increasingly bizarre consequences of their existence, which also results in the clones being targeted by a dangerous religious cult.

This new series should prove to be a welcome idea, even if it’s not really a continuation of the Sarah Manning saga. Indeed, the original Orphan Black – co-created by John Fawcett and Graeme Manson – experienced acclaim on several levels, notably for the chameleonic performances of Tatiana Maslany in her roles as the clones. The series also achieved awards season accolades, notably with three Primetime Emmy Award nominations in the category of “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series” for Maslany, as well as a Golden Globe nod in 2014, also for Maslany, in the category of “Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series.”

Interestingly, the other narrative going into this new Orphan Black TV project is that it’s set stateside for AMC, rather than the original show’s home of BBC America. It’s especially odd, since BBC America has since elevated itself with the increasing popularity of (the now-female-starring) Doctor Who, and has even found another acclaimed, genre-similar female-headlined hit in Killing Eve, which also earned Emmy and Golden Globe acclaim, and is coming back with a highly-anticipated second season next month.

Regardless, we will keep you updated on the new Orphan Black TV project as the news arrives!

Joseph Baxter is a contributor for Den of Geek and Syfy Wire. You can find his work here. Follow him on Twitter @josbaxter.