The Orville season 3 is happening, but fans may still need to wait for a while. The sci-fi series found a new home as it has been moved from Fox to Hulu. Aside from that news, details about the latest installment remain scarce until now -- particularly when filming could resume.
Just like other shows out there, The Orville season 3 wasn't able to finish production due to the COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year. A lot of things need to be considered before the cast and crew get back to work. Certain health guidelines and protocols must be followed to ensure everyone's safety.
The upcoming season kicked off production in October 2019, and it is, reportedly, halfway done at the time of the filming shut down. It seems like the series is preparing to get everything back as production could resume again soon.
Recently, Trek Movie reported that there's a plan for the third installment to begin filming in the first week of December. The cast and crew are expected to be back on set after the Thanksgiving weekend. Production will continue until Christmas and New Year break and then will restart in early January.
Considering the current situation, everyone must work under strict COVID-19 protocols to complete The Orville season 3. The report further noted that it'd take about five or six months to finish the upcoming installment.
When it comes to the release date, nothing is certain for now. Hulu hasn't set the official premiere date for the series, though the team hopes to drop it before 2021 ends. The new chapter will also consist of 11 episodes and will have a longer running time compared to the previous installments.
The move from Fox to Hulu allows The Orville season 3 to have longer episodes and dive into more ambitious materials. The tone of the story won't change, but they're going to make it "better and bigger." It gives the series a chance to explore each character's storyline.
In a related report from the aforementioned website, executive producer David Goodman clarifies that the series itself hasn't changed. The difference is that Hulu gives them more freedom, and they don't need to worry about the episode's length.
Viewers can expect lengthy episodes once The Orville season 3 premieres. Goodman added that the platform allows them to leave some stories that would've been cut if they're on the network. Since each episode will have more time, the story feels somehow complete.
