Sci-fi thriller Orphan Black has a spin-off in the works. Airing from 2013 to 2017, the show became a cult classic from the moment Sarah Manning watched her double step in front of a train. The mystery unfolded over five seasons, two graphic novels, and a podcast. And now #CloneClub is coming back! AMC greenlit a spin-off. Here’s what we know so far.
Orphan Black: Echoes is set to premier in 2023, on AMC+. There will be ten episodes in the first season, which “follows a group of women as they weave their way into each other’s lives and embark on a thrilling journey, unravelling the mystery of their identity and uncovering a wrenching story of love and betrayal.”
The announcement came through the official Orphan Black socials:
“Dear Clone Club,
You’ve been with us from the moment Sarah Manning watched in horror as Beth Childs inexplicably jumped in front of a train. Then stole her purse and identity. You rode shotgun with the Sestras as they fought to protect themselves and their sisterhood against everything from Freaky Leekies to Proletheans to maniacal Neolutionists and Topside agents.
You celebrated the crazy moment, the wild twists and turns, the f-ked up science, the horror and the humor, and most of all the love that made Orphan Black what it was. You are the #CloneClub.
So we wanted you to be the first to know that we’re continuing the story. Much in the Orphan Black universe remains in the black. In partnership with our intrepid friends at Boat Rocker and AMC, it’s time to go back in. Are you ready to go down the Rabbit Hole again? #OrphanBlackEchoes #2023.
– Team Orphan Black”
Echoes is not a sequel as such, though it’s set in the same world as Orphan Black not long after the final series wrapped. We don’t know whether any of the original cast will return, or whether the story will revolve around clones. But we do know that – like the original – it will raise difficult questions about science and ethics.
This announcement is great news for lesbian and bisexual fans. The dynamic between lesbian clone Cosima Niehaus (Tatiana Maslany) and her French girlfriend Delphine Cormier (Évelyne Brochu) was a highlight of the original series. These sapphic scientists gave us one of the greatest ships of the last ten years: HMS Cophine. Countless GIFs on Tumblr and works of fanfiction are testimony to the power of this couple.
With its celebration of unconventional families, the powerful bonds between women, and – of course – Cophine, Orphan Black was a smash hit with sapphic audiences. And while there’s no word on Maslany or Brochu returning, there is every reason to believe that ethos will carry on resonating through Echoes.
And there’s plenty of time for a rewatch before Orphan Black: Echoes premiers.
