Over the course of its first three seasons, The Orville has significantly improved, going from a slapdash Star Trek parody to one of the best sci-fi series to appear on television in a long time. And during a significant network change just to start.
What will happen to the USS Orville crew now that season three, dubbed “New Horizons,” has ended?
There hasn’t been an official announcement for season four yet, but according to creator Seth MacFarlane, there’s still a 50:50 possibility that it will be renewed.
When the show debuts on Disney+, MacFarlane told TVLine, “My goal is that the people who haven’t yet discovered it would suddenly give it a shot.” “That could totally shift the game for us.”
Here’s all you need to know about upcoming episodes on Hulu and Disney+, assuming you all go watch The Orville on repeat right now in an effort to increase its chances of getting a fourth season.
The Orville season 4 potential release date: When will it air?
As of November 2022, there has been no news regarding a definite season four, therefore the question is not when, but if.
However, we do know that MacFarlane and company are already prepared and waiting to resume filming as soon as the all-clear is given.
The Hollywood Reporter cited the show’s creator as saying:
“I would adore [a fourth season]. I’m sure everyone in the cast is hoping for it. It raises a lot of questions for many reasons. The cost of producing the performance is high. Budgeting for it must be ambitious. On the other hand, it isn’t any more ambitious than half of the other streaming television programs.”
Added him: “Really, everything will rely on how the public reacts and whether or not the show is noticed. When people sit down to watch the show, they’re nearly always startled and it almost always defies their expectations because I still believe that many people simply are unaware of us and have little understanding of who we are. I guess because I’m the one.
“It depends on how the audience reacts, probably because the majority of what I’ve done in the past has been so different.
“The bottom line is that it’s a business. It depends on whether Disney and the platform we’re on think we’re valuable.”
As a result, season four of The Orville has not yet been in production. However, if the show gets renewed shortly, new episodes may start airing as early as 2024. Keep in mind that MacFarlane is a busy man with all of his other series, and production may take longer than the customary 12 to 18 months for TV viewers.
The Orville season 4 cast: Who will be in it?
Captain Edward “Ed” Mercer is portrayed by Seth MacFarlane; Commander Kelly Grayson by Adrianne Palicki; Dr. Claire Finn by Penny Johnson Jerald; Lieutenant Gordon Malloy by Scott Grimes; Lieutenant Commander Bortus by Peter Macon; Lieutenant Commander John LaMarr by J. Lee; Isaac by Mark Jackson; Lieutenant Commander Talla Keyali by Jessic a Szohr; and Lysella by Giorgia Whigham
Ensign Charly Burke, who is played by Anne Winters, won’t be joining the crew again any time soon. She ultimately gave her life in the season three finale to save Kaylon emissary Isaac, so she is effectively out of the picture unless flashbacks are included.
The boss of The Orville explains a surprise character’s demise
In an interview with TVLine, MacFarlane discussed the circumstances behind Charly’s passing:
There was another episode that was going to be in between Midnight Blue and Domino, which is part of what might make it seem [like it happened] a little bit quickly. This is one of the reasons I wrote the novella.
He continued, “At a certain point, we were all just itching to get this f**king thing on the air. We would all jokingly ask whether we would be producing this program for the rest of our lives and it would never end.
“We ran out of gas, and the thought of filming another episode, especially one as grandiose as Sympathy for the Devil (now a novella), was daunting. Simply put, there was nothing left.”
The Orville season 4 plot: What will happen?
In many respects, the season three finale, “Future Unknown,” might be the ideal way to wrap up the program. There, many of the major storylines are wrapped up, including the Kaylon conflict and Claire and Isaac’s marriage, giving season three a sense of closure.
If the USS Orville does set off once more into the unknown, there is always room for new adventures. After all, Lysella has already joined the crew, and it seems as though her journey aboard the ship has just begun.
Creator of The Orville Seth MacFarlane spoke with Decider after the series finale to discuss why further episodes might be produced if enough people watch it on Disney+:
“People who do give it a shot and sit down to watch the show are virtually always shocked and taken by surprise. Oh my goodness, this is exactly the reverse of what I expected it to be… in a nice way! “said he. “And if we can convince enough people to give us a chance, I believe the rewards will come in the form of a fourth season and possibly beyond.
The decision ultimately rests with the audience, MacFarlane said. “since a business is involved. Because it costs money to produce the show, its popularity and viewership must support its continued existence. So let’s hope Disney+ will offer us that opportunity.”
Maybe some Orville crew members can switch over to American Dad if that doesn’t work out. Considering that MacFarlane is the creator of both series, we recently heard from American Dad showrunner Matt Weitzman at Comic-Con about this exact situation:
Scott Grimes is an actor that appears on both series, so he joked, “We’re thinking about hiring him on the show.” On our show, Mike Henry, who appears on that show, frequently appears.”
Weitzman affirmed, “I’m not necessarily looking to do that. “Basically, whatever works. We won’t search for it, but if it functions, it functions.”
The Orville season 4 trailer: When can we see it?
You can count on Digital Spy to bravely move on and publish fresh footage from The Orville season four with you all as soon as it becomes available.
In the US, Hulu offers The Orville season 3 streaming. You can watch it on STAR on Disney+ in the UK.
