<P> In July 2011, it was revealed that Netflix was in negotiations with Lionsgate for a 13 - episode TV adaptation of Kerman's memoirs with Kohan as creator . In November 2011, negotiations were finalized and the series had been greenlit . Casting announcements began in August 2012 with Taylor Schilling, the first to be cast, in the lead role as Piper Chapman, followed by Jason Biggs as Piper's fiancé Larry Bloom . </P> <P> Laura Prepon and Yael Stone were next to join the series . Abigail Savage, who plays Gina, and Alysia Reiner, who plays Fig, had auditioned for role of Alex Vause . Prepon initially auditioned for Piper Chapman, however Kohan felt she would not worry about her (in prison), noting a "toughness and a presence to her that wasn't right for the character ." Kohan instead gave her the role of Alex. Stone had originally auditioned for the role of Nicky Nichols, but she was not considered "tough enough" for the character; she was asked to audition for Lorna Morello instead . Likability was important for Morello, whom casting director Jen Euston deemed "a very helpful, nice, sweet Italian girl ." Laverne Cox, a black transgender woman, was cast as Sophia Burset, a transgender character . The Advocate touted Orange Is the New Black as possibly the first women - in - prison narrative to cast a transgender woman for this type of role . Natasha Lyonne was to audition for Alex, but was asked to read for the character Nicky Nichols; "(Kohan knew) she could do Nicky with her eyes closed . She was perfect," said Euston . Uzo Aduba read for the part of Janae Watson but was offered the character Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren . Taryn Manning was offered the role of Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett . This American Life host Ira Glass was offered a role as a public radio host, but he declined . The role instead went to Robert Stanton, who plays the fictional host Maury Kind . </P> <P> The series is set in a fictional prison in Litchfield, New York, which is a real town in upstate New York, but it does not have a federal penitentiary . The series began filming in the old Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center in Rockland County, New York, on March 7, 2013 . The title sequence features photos of real former female prisoners including Kerman herself . </P> <P> On June 27, 2013, prior to the series premiere, Netflix renewed the show for a second season consisting of 13 episodes . For the second season, Uzo Aduba, Taryn Manning, Danielle Brooks, and Natasha Lyonne were promoted to series regulars . Laura Prepon did not return as a series regular for a second season because of scheduling conflicts, but returned for season 3 as a regular . On May 5, 2014, the series was renewed for a third season, as revealed by actress Laura Prepon . For the third season, several actors were promoted to series regulars, including Selenis Leyva, Adrienne C. Moore, Dascha Polanco, Nick Sandow, Yael Stone, and Samira Wiley . Both Jason Biggs and Pablo Schreiber were confirmed as not returning for the third season, but Schreiber appeared in the 10th episode of the third season . The series was renewed for a fourth season on April 15, 2015, prior to its third - season premiere . For the fourth season, Jackie Cruz and Lea DeLaria were promoted to series regulars; with Elizabeth Rodriguez also being promoted by the season's sixth episode . On February 5, 2016, the series was renewed for a fifth, sixth and seventh season . </P>

Where are they filming orange is the new black