Space Orders Season 4 of Ground-Breaking Original Thriller, ORPHAN BLACK

– Starring Canadian Screen Award Winner Tatiana Maslany, production is slated to begin this fall in Toronto –
− From Temple Street Productions, ORPHAN BLACK is produced in partnership with Space and BBC America –
– All-new episodes of Orphan Black Season 3 air Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET, on Space –

To tweet this release: bmpr.ca/1H1uB5e

TORONTO, May 7, 2015 /CNW/ - Space has confirmed that it has ordered 10 additional, one-hour episodes of its critically-acclaimed clone conspiracy thriller ORPHAN BLACK. From  Temple Street Productions and produced in partnership with Space and BBC America, Season 4 of the Canadian original drama will see the return of phenomenal, award-winning Canadian actor, and Golden Globe®-nominee Tatiana Maslany (Woman In Gold, PARKS AND RECREATION), who has portrayed nine distinct clones to date. Production is set to begin this fall, in Toronto. The multi-channel Season 3 premiere of ORPHAN BLACK on Saturday, April 18 drew a combined audience of 697,000 viewers to Space, CTV, Bravo, and MTV, making it the most-watched episode of the series ever. All-new episodes of ORPHAN BLACK Season 3 air Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET on Space. The first two seasons are streaming now on CraveTV^TM.

"ORPHAN BLACK has become one of the decade's breakthrough dramas, and a signature series for Space," said Tracey Pearce Senior Vice-President, Specialty and Pay, Bell Media. "This series is evidence that when a pedigreed creative team comes together with incredible actors, they create something impactful. We look forward to continuing to work with Temple Street and BBC America on what is sure to be another mind-bending season."

"The growth of ORPHAN BLACK and the amazing response from audiences over the past three seasons has exceeded our expectations and we're delighted to be able to continue the journey in season four," commented David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, executive producers of Orphan Black and Co-Presidents of Temple Street Productions. "We are incredibly proud of our talented cast and crew and grateful for the support from our broadcast partners at Space and BBCA."

In the next episode of ORPHAN BLACK, "Newer Elements of Our Defense" (Saturday, May 9 at 9 p.m. ET) Mark (Ari Millen, REIGN) is taken down in a Prolethean shoot-out and Sarah (Maslany) must step in to help. But as Sarah gathers intel that puts her on the trail of the original Castor DNA, a familiar foe is not far behind. While Helena (Maslany) continues to struggle in a faraway military compound, it is ultimately Sarah's fate that will hang in the balance as she tries to save her sister. Meanwhile, Gracie (Zoé De Grand Maison, ROOKIE BLUE) is cast out from the Prolethean fold, and Alison (Maslany) and Donnie (Kristian Bruun, MURDOCH MYSTERIES) come face-to-face with unhappy drug lord, Jason Kellerman (Justin Chatwin, SHAMELESS).

** Media Note ** To download ORPHAN BLACK Season 3 artwork and photography, click here.

ORPHAN BLACK stars Canadian Screen Award winner and Golden Globe^® nominee Tatiana Maslany, who to date has portrayed nine different characters (Sarah, Beth, Katja, Alison, Cosima, Helena, Rachel, Jennifer, and Tony). Season 3 features the incredible ensemble cast comprised of Jordan Gavaris (The Sea of Trees) as Felix, Sarah's foster brother; Maria Doyle Kennedy (DOWNTON ABBEY) as Mrs. S, Sarah and Felix's hard-nosed working class foster mother; Dylan Bruce (ARROW) as Paul, Beth's boyfriend with a secret linked to his army days in Afghanistan, Kevin Hanchard (REPUBLIC OF DOYLE) as Art, a veteran detective; Skyler Wexler (Carrie) as Kira, Sarah's seven-year-old daughter; and Michiel Huisman (GAME OF THRONES) as Cal Morrison, Sarah's mysterious ex-boyfriend and Kira's father. Season 3 also sees the return of Ari Millen as the recently revealed new Castor clones.

ORPHAN BLACK is executive produced by Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Being Erica, X COMPANY), Graeme Manson (Cube, FLASHPOINT) and John Fawcett (SPARTACUS, Ginger Snaps). The series is co-created by Manson and Fawcett, with Manson also serving as writer and Fawcett as director. BBC Worldwide distributes the series internationally, reaching more than 170 countries.

ORPHAN BLACK is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Space and BBC America. Production Executive is Gosia Kamela. Tom Hastings is Director, Drama, Independent Production, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Tracey Pearce is Senior Vice-President, Specialty and Pay. Phil King is President, CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming.

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About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, MOTIVE, the record-breaking THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, and MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the three-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, the most-watched original series in Space history BITTEN, Bravo's most-watched new drama 19-2, TRANSPORTER – THE SERIES, dramedy SENSITIVE SKIN, and the upcoming KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to hit factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL, COLD WATER COWBOYS, and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others.

About Temple Street Productions
Temple Street Productions is a leading producer of television, film and digital media content based in Toronto and Los Angeles. A selection of Temple Street's past and present projects include, Orphan Black (BBC AMERICA, Space), X Company (CBC), Being Erica (CBC, SOAPnet), The Next Step (Family Channel), Wingin' It (Family Channel), Say Yes to the Dress Canada (W), Million Dollar Critic (W, BBC America), Cook'd (YTV), Over the Rainbow (CBC), Recipe to Riches (CBC, Food Network, Global), Cover Me Canada (CBC), Billable Hours (Global, Showcase), Canada's Next Top Model (CTV), How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? (CBC), Queer as Folk (Showtime, Showcase), and Darcy's Wild Life (NBC, Discovery Kids, Family Channel). For more company information www.templestreetproductions.com twitter @TempleStreet or connect with us on Facebook.

About Space
Space is home to phenomenal programming including imaginative dramas, epic movies, engaging reality series, and the daily entertainment talk show INNERSPACE, the source for all-things genre – all in high definition (HD). Named "Channel of the Year" in 2013 by Playback Magazine, Space is also home to Original Series ORPHAN BLACK and BITTEN. Space content is always available at Space.ca, and on Facebook, @SpaceChannel, and other social media platforms. Space is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company.

SOURCE SPACE

Natalie Cole, Space, 416.384.2140 or [email protected]; Mary Costa, Space, 416.384.7702 or [email protected]