It is no surprise that Orange is the New Black will be back this summer for another season.  In point of fact, it will be back for a few more.  Considering that the show is based on some real-life source material and follows a character who is the author of the original book, viewers might be surprised that Season 4 will not follow Piper much.  However, a lot is coming to the prison as even more background characters will be developed, leading to a lot more diversity than before. 

Yes, something that might not come as a surprise for those who watch the show is that Piper will be less in the center.  This is what iDigitalTimes reports from the show's creator, Jenji Kohan.  Considering that the show is based on the autobiography of Piper Kerman called Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison, it might seem odd that the show would veer the spotlight away from the lead character Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling). 

However, fans of the show know that the show is not just about Piper, but all the cellmates in Litchfield Penitentiary.  There have been several episodes in Season 3 that have focused on other cellmates, and the show's format is designed to follow a character through a series of flashbacks.  In fact, Yael Stone, who plays Lorna Morello on the show, has told ABC Australia that there will be some changes in the characters and that expansions of the cast will be made to improve the diversity with different kinds of women. 

In fact, it is revealed that Jolene Purdy has booked a recurring role in Season 4, according to Pop Sugar.  It is not known who or what this character will be, though.  Two regular characters have been promoted to series regulars: Flaca (Jackie Cruz) and Big Boo (Lea DeLaria). 

MNR Daily reports that the show has already been renewed for three more seasons, and that the fourth season is going to take place five seconds after Season 3's ending.  This was revealed by Laura Prepon, who plays Alex.  She has stated that Alex and Piper "love each other and they hate each other and it's frustrating and passionate, but there's definitely some vindication there, for sure.  Piper though she was crazy all season, but she wasn't."

Season 3 ended with Alex about to be attacked and presumably killed, but it seems pretty obvious that Alex makes it for Season 4.  It also ended with Piper essentially selling out Stella (Ruby Rose), and then having her go to solitary.  It is possible that this character could return again, but the ending showed how much Piper had become a "boss" in the prison. 

Orange is the New Black will come again to Netflix on June 17.