Orphan Black type TV Show network BBC America genre Sci-fi

Thriller

Orphan Black fans have a ton of emotional baggage to unpack before the final season premiere (Are Kira and S OK? P.T. Westmoreland is still alive!?), but on Tuesday morning, BBC America roused fan anticipation by offering a sneak peek at production on the upcoming final season’s first episode via Facebook Live.

Around 20 minutes of live production of the season 5 premiere were streamed to the Orphan Black Facebook page, showing recent Emmy-winner Tatiana Maslany stumbling through the woods (biting a rabbit and performing bird calls) in character as fan-favorite clone Helena. The episode is currently being filmed on location in Canada.

Additionally, BBC America confirmed the show’s roster of returning cast members set to appear across season 5, including lead performer Maslany, Jordan Gavaris (Felix), Kristian Bruun (Donnie), Maria Doyle Kennedy (Mrs. S), Kevin Hanchard (Art), Ari Millen (Ira), Josh Vokey (Scott), and Skyler Wexler (Kira). James Frain (Ferdinand), Evelyne Brochu (Delphine), and Calwyn Shurgold (Hell Wizard) are also returning to the sci-fi drama.

Image zoom

New cast members making their debut as part of the series’ final season include Elyse Levesque as Detective Engers, a Neolution officer; Andrew Moodie as Mr. Frontenac, one of Rachel’s consultants; Simu Liu as Mr. Mitchell, Kira’s schoolteacher; Jenessa Grant as Mud, an island-dweller; and Stephen McHattie as P.T. Westmorland, the impossibly ancient (170 years old!) Neolution founder.

“Since the beginning, BBCA has worked with the incredibly talented cast and crew of Orphan Black to create deep relationships with the show’s fans,” said Sarah Barnett, president of BBC America, via press release. “As the team reunites to shoot season 5, we all wanted to invite the Clone Club to something pretty special — a virtual set visit with Facebook Live. This innovative event marks the beginning of our celebrations leading up to the final season of this unique show in 2017.”

Orphan Black, co-created by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett, is executive-produced by Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier, Manson, Fawcett, and Kerry Appleyard, and premiered in 2013. Its final season is set to air sometime in 2017.

Watch 20 minutes of production from the set of Orphan Black season 5 in the video above.