'Orphan Black' spinoff on the table; season 5 likely to start with a bloodbath and a time jump

“Orphan Black” was recently renewed for Season 5, which will also be the last on BBC America. Co-creator and showrunner Graeme Manson provided some details about the show’s future and the potential plot and spin-off.

In an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter , Manson talked about the decision to end the sci-fi clone thriller after five seasons.

Manson said that the creative decision to finally conclude the series came from him, director John Fawcett and main star Tatiana Maslany. He explained that they managed to keep the fast-paced show sharp and relevant. Their biggest fear was repeating the story, so they would rather close properly instead of going on with a watered down storyline. They wanted to go out on their own terms telling the story that they wanted to tell. He and Fawcett thought that Season 5 would be the furthest that they could take the plot, and the networks also agreed with their plan.

As for the start of the fifth season, a lot of characters will be hanging in the balance. Sarah is wounded and stuck on the island alone. Some characters are holding on to Sarah’s heart. Rachel is about to answer the door to the mysterious Westmoreland, which may result to bloodshed. Manson said that they are still unsure whether there will be a time jump between Season 4 and 5. The difference in the way that they transitioned between seasons before is that this time, they hung the main narrative, specifically Sarah, which requires immediate action.

More about P.T. Westmoreland will be unraveled in the fifth season. They presented some interesting questions, particularly about Neolution, which they will gradually unveil as the season progresses. In terms of tone and structure, fans can expect the same approach. At present, he and Fawcett are working towards the end point. They are planning the finale simultaneously with the premiere, because they aim to create an intricate season that doubles back on itself and sets things up early.

As for a potential “Orphan Black” spin-off, Manson said that they talk about it loosely, although they are more focused on Season 5 at present. The show airs on BBC America. It also airs on Syfy Australia.