'Orange Is the New Black' star Laura Prepon became the subject of a good deal of speculation around the second season of Netflix's breakout drama with reports suggesting she would appear in four out of the upcoming 13 episodes. Now, as an announcement of season 2's premiere looms, series creator Jenji Kohan stepped up to clarify Prepon's season 2 involvement, which apparently is much more than initially thought.

"Yes, yes, she is coming back," Kohan told Us Weekly of Prepon's status with the Emmy-nominated series. "Not the whole season, but ... you'll see her for most of it." Previously, Prepon was thought to have dropped out of season 2 to pursue a directing career, though, when last we heard, discussions for her character Alex Vause's role in a potential third season had taken place, as well.

For those unfamiliar with the Netflix series, Prepon portrayed Piper's (Taylor Schilling) former lover, Alex Vause, who provided both the drugs for which Piper landed in prison and the bulk of the season 1 drama. Series creator Kohan also extolled in interviews that the season 2 story expands well beyond Piper and Alex to the diverse cast of women with different backstories that make up the cast.

In addition to Prepon’s reduced role and Taryn Manning’s elevation to series regular, ‘Orange Is the New Black’ season 2 will see both Uzo Aduba (fan-favorite Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren) and Danielle Brooks’ character Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson similarly upgraded. Lorraine Toussaint joined the Netflix drama’s second season in a heavily recurring role as Vee, a longtime street tough who ran her own drug business, recruiting children to serve as runners, while '90s 'Tank Girl' icon Lori Petty will appear in an unknown role.

We're still waiting for an official premiere announcement on 'Orange Is the New Black' season 2, but what do you think? Were reports of Prepon's involvement with the new season exaggerated? Where would you like to see the Netflix series go in season 2?

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