'Orphan Black' Team Leave Door Open for Special Episodes After Final Season: 'A Very Helena Christmas!'

By
BBC America

Ahead of the fifth and final season, the Orphan Black team said farewell to the fans one last time at Comic-Con.

Executive producer Graeme Manson explained why it was time to end the beloved sci-fi drama, led by Tatiana Maslany, after the new season.

"We had five seasons in mind. The thing we don’t want to do is get soft in the middle. We really think it's cooler to cancel yourself or peter out," Manson said during Friday's panel. "Tat works too hard. We don't want her to cry in the lunch lineup. We cry in the lunch lineup, so we gotta go easy on ourselves."


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They did leave some possibility for the Orphan Black universe to continue beyond the fifth season, mentioning the option of doing holiday-themed specials. (Moderator Scott Aukerman even pitching some spinoffs.)

"This is our last chance. We gotta do a Christmas special!" Manson said, half-joking. Cast member Kevin Hanchard threw out an idea that seemed fitting and totally doable: "A Very Helena Christmas!"

To celebrate the final 10 episodes of Orphan Black, one fan will win a walk-on role on the series, though the producers admitted they hadn't yet created the character.

Earlier this month, Maslany received her second Emmy nomination for her unbelievable work playing multiple clones, which led to a touching standing ovation.


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When asked if she thought she could win, Maslany was adamant she wasn’t going to: "No! Definitely not, but what an honor."

As for what that Orphan Black's last image will be, Manson and Fawcett have known what the series' final image will be for a while.

"Much as planning the final season is bittersweet, the fun of it is knowing the end," Fawcett said.

Ahead of the panel, writer Heli Kennedy shared an adorable behind-the-scenes video of the cast and producers in an elevator doing an impromptu rap.

We’re going to miss you, Orphan Black!

Watch the hilarious season four blooper reel below.


Orphan Black
returns for its final season April 2017 on BBC America.


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