‘Orange is the New Black’ Season 6 Gets a Release Date and Teaser

This morning, a brand-new teaser dropped for the new season of Orange is the New Black, and it’s…a whole lot of nothing! But exciting, nonetheless.

The trailer depicts dusty orange smoke floating through a dilapidated Litchfield prison, previous home to the characters in the first five seasons, with the mysterious legendary chicken clucking on a window sill.

“This is a whole new world,” coos the voice of Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), as signage reads “To the max,” alluding to the sixth season, which will likely take place in a maximum security facility. Netflix tweeted out the teaser trailer, captioning the video “Bye bye, Litch.”

Last season, the show ended in a tense standoff between Litchfield inmates and riot police, who de-escalated a three-day prison riot. The fate of the lead inmates remains unclear, as many have been separated and shipped off to different facilities, while many of them are sure to face catastrophic punishments (especially because some were caught red-handed in the kidnapping of a guard).

We’re not sure what exactly Season 6 has in store, but Orange is the New Black has consistently made a point to center queerness in its LGBTQ characters, actors, and writers, as well as shining a light on social issues such as injustices in the American prison system. Adrienne C. Moore, the actress who plays Black Cindy, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the divide between lead characters on Season 5.

“Toward the end of Season 5, there were some people that were agreeing to stick together, and there were some people that were looking out for themselves,” she said, hinting, “We’ll see the repercussions of those decisions in this next season.”

The show’s creator Jenji Kohan hopes to sprinkle social commentary about Trump and the current fraught political climate into Season 6. 

“Season 5 is Season 5,” the showrunner says, “but for 6, I don’t think anyone can help but incorporate some of the feelings associated with what’s going on and the divisions and all that stuff.”

Season 6 of Netflix’s flagship dramedy starts streaming Friday, July 27th. The show has been renewed for a seventh season, although it’s unclear if Season 7 will be its last.