Orphan Black Sequel & Bob Odenkirk Series Set for AMC Networks

AMC Networks has greenlit Orphan Black: Echoes, a spin-off of the hit series Orphan Black, and Straight Man, a new series starring Bob Odenkirk.

Orphan Black: Echoes, produced by Boat Rocker, will take a deep dive into the scientific manipulation of human existence. It will follow a group of women as they weave their way into each other’s lives and unravel the mystery of their identity.

Anna Fishko (Pieces of Her, The Society, Fear the Walking Dead) is creator, writer, showrunner and executive producer, with John Fawcett, the co-creator of the original series who also directed 17 episodes across all five seasons, serving as director and executive producer. Boat Rocker’s David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, who were executive producers on the original series, will executive produce the spin-off, along with Katie O’Connell Marsh, Nick Nantell and Kerry Appleyard.

The Orphan Black spin-off is slated to debut on AMC+ and the company’s linear networks in 2023.

“Orphan Black had a remarkable run on BBC America, attracting millions of dedicated and highly engaged fans, captivated by a smart and engrossing story and a star-making and Emmy-winning performance by Tatiana Maslany,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “We can’t wait to dive back in with Anna, John and our partners at Boat Rocker and deliver an all-new version of this rich world that is worthy of the #CloneClub.”

“We started our journey down the Orphan Black rabbit hole when Sarah Manning watched Beth Childs inexplicably jump in front of an oncoming train,” said Fortier and Schneeberg, co-executive chairmen of Boat Rocker Media and co-chairmen of Boat Rocker Studios. “Since then, a passionate fandom has joined us for a wildly entertaining ride. We’re delighted to be partnering with AMC and Anna Fishko and joining forces again with John Fawcett, to boldly reenter the Orphan Black universe. Once again, we welcome Clone Club along for the ride and look forward to adventuresome new fans taking the leap. Strap yourselves in and hold on!”

Fishko said, “I am thrilled to begin this new chapter in the world of Orphan Black. Creating a story that embraces the legacy of the original show has been so gratifying, and I’m excited for audiences to embark on a new journey that explores the big questions of what makes us who we are. I’m incredibly lucky to have such supportive partners in Boat Rocker, John Fawcett and AMC and can’t wait to introduce audiences old and new to the next installment of this beloved story.”

Fawcett added, “Embarking on a new saga of Orphan Black with Anna, our partners at Boat Rocker and AMC could not be more exciting. For all our dedicated OB fans out there, I am thrilled that we can bring this new chapter to them. Without our fans, this new show certainly wouldn’t exist, and for that I am deeply grateful. I can’t wait to ‘follow the crazy science’ for them!”

AMC Networks is also fast-track developing Straight Man with Sony Pictures Television’s TriStar TV and Gran Via. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Richard Russo, the series will center on the chairman of an English department in a badly underfunded college in the Pennsylvania rust belt as he undergoes a mid-life crisis. Bob Odenkirk is set to star.

Aaron Zelman and Paul Lieberstein are serving as co-showrunners, with Peter Farrelly on board to direct. Zelman, Lieberstein, Odenkirk, Farrelly, Russo, Naomi Odenkirk and Marc Provissiero will serve as executive producers.

“Bob Odenkirk is just as good as it gets,” said McDermott. “We feel so fortunate to be developing a new show that would keep him at AMC after Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, two iconic series that have been beloved by millions of fans and helped define AMC and its reputation for unforgettable characters and high-quality storytelling for adults. We’re also thrilled to be working again with our partners at Sony Pictures Television and Mark Johnson’s Gran Via to explore this compelling material.”

Odenkirk said, “I loved Paul and Aaron’s take on Richard’s excellent, entertaining novel. Once again, a project with AMC with a focus on character depth and sensitivity. This milieu (academia) seems very pertinent to the conversations we’re all having. I am drawn to the tone of humanity and humor in the novel, and I look forward to playing this role—something lighter than my recent projects but still closely observed and smart.”