It appears Seth MacFarlane‘s series, The Orville, could be preparing for a return.
While promoting the upcoming second season of his Peacock series Ted, MacFarlane informed The Hollywood Reporter that the writers for The Orville have already completed scripts for 10 new episodes, potentially forming a fourth season. MacFarlane is both the creator and a star of the science fiction show, which initially broadcast its first two seasons on Fox, then transitioned to Hulu for its third season, released in June 2022.
“To be candid, season four is completely scripted,” MacFarlane stated regarding The Orville. “The only remaining hurdle is finding the right time to move into production.”
MacFarlane, a highly productive creator, affirmed that Hulu is prepared to greenlight the next season. However, his demanding personal schedule is making it difficult to allocate time for filming. “All ten scripts are finished,” MacFarlane elaborated. “The delay is on my end. It’s about when I can dedicate a full year to it, given my other ongoing projects. But once that time comes, we’ll be able to start immediately.”
Debuting on Fox in 2017, The Orville is set in the 25th century and follows the adventures of the crew aboard the USS Orville spacecraft, commanded by MacFarlane’s character, Capt. Ed Mercer. The ensemble cast for the third season featured Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Jessica Szohr, and Anne Winters.
Here we see President Alcuzan (Bruce Boxleitner), Lt. Gordon Malloy (Scott Grimes), Speria Balask (Lisa Banes), Admiral Halsey (Victor Garber), Charly Burke (Anne Winters), and Capt. Ed Mercer (Seth MacFarlane) during The Orville: New Horizons on Hulu.
Image provided by Michael Desmond/Hulu
In 2022, MacFarlane previously shared with THR that he and his fellow cast members were eager for Hulu to greenlight additional episodes, even with obstacles such as cast contracts lapsing post-season three. He further noted the significant role of the show’s budget.
“I’d absolutely be thrilled,” the actor expressed about pursuing more of The Orville. “I’m aware that the whole cast is wishing for it. There are many uncertainties involved. It’s a costly production, demanding a substantial budget. Yet, it’s no more financially ambitious than numerous other streaming series available today. Ultimately, its future hinges on audience reception and whether it garners wider recognition.”
Subsequently, in a 2024 discussion coinciding with the premiere of Ted’s initial season, the creator of Family Guy cryptically remarked to THR concerning The Orville, “My only comment is that the series has not been officially cancelled.”
During a podcast conversation in late 2023, Palicki indicated that a return as Cmdr. Kelly Grayson for a potential fourth season seemed improbable for her.
“I’m not doing that anymore,” the actress stated regarding The Orville, adding that she was unsure if the show itself would continue. Palicki clarified that her availability for filming became problematic due to the lengthy gaps between production cycles: “It turned into a genuine difficulty because of the extensive pauses between seasons. Seth preferred to write every aspect himself, which inherently prolonged the process.” She concluded, “I truly enjoyed many elements of it. I believe the production approach was the challenging part.”