HBO Max Officially Revives One of the Best Sci-Fi Shows of the 21st Century

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Tatiana Maslany as Sarah and Helena look worried standing in the woods at night in Orphan Black.

Published Oct 20, 2026, 10:15 PM EDT

Makuochi Echebiri is a News Writer for Collider. He has been interested in creative writing from as far back as high school, and he would consume pretty much anything that’s film or TV. However, his truest love lies in the presence of historical epics and thrillers.

Lured by the brilliance of Middle Earth from an early age both in print and on screen, his palate has since expanded to other realms including Westeros, Kattegat among others. He also possesses a great appetite for the stories that emanate from the vastness of space. Even though he is no Avenger.

Obsessed with storytelling and having works of his own that have yet to make it to print, he is content to use that ability to communicate to as many as are reachable. In his spare time, he looks out for avenues where he can aid people aside from his plans to reign over this earthly realm. Yes…you heard that first here.

The 21st century has given audiences a wealth of sci-fi shows that have stood the test of time. From classics like Battlestar Galactica and The Twilight Zone to more modern favorites like The Expanse and The X-Files, the genre has consistently captivated audiences across generations. The rise of streaming has flooded the market with diverse options as platforms compete to create the next sci-fi classic. HBO Max, in particular, has made its mark on the genre with acclaimed offerings such as Westworld, Station Eleven, and Raised by Wolves. Now the streamer is expanding its sci-fi library with an underrated modern classic.

HBO Max's new sci-fi acquisition is one that ended nearly a decade ago but has aged like fine wine, even rising to cult status. Created by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett, the series told a complex story about the moral and ethical implications of human cloning and its impact on identity. It was a hit with critics and, over the years, has maintained a fresh 93% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the site's consensus describing it as "a wild science fiction ride that incorporates dramatic sensibilities which can turn from suspenseful to light at a moment's notice." The series is anchored by a remarkable, star-making masterclass of a performance from Tatiana Maslany, who brought an extraordinary range to a story.

If you guessed Orphan Black, then you're a true member of the #CloneClub. The sci-fi thriller originally aired on BBC America from 2013 to 2017. Years after its end, the series made its major streaming debut on Netflix last year, where it unsurprisingly ranked among the platform's most-watched titles. Netflix's streaming license recently expired, and now, per a new report, HBO Max has secured the series in a co-exclusive streaming deal with Peacock, meaning all five seasons and 50 episodes of the cult favorite are now available to stream on both platforms.

Could HBO Max Make a New 'Orphan Black Show'?

Acquisitions like this can sometimes signal bigger franchise plans, but nothing else is official from HBO Max yet. The franchise has already attempted to expand beyond the original series with Orphan Black: Echoes, an AMC spinoff starring Krysten Ritter. Set in 2052, the series explored a similar premise with new characters, but despite the hype, it proved to be a letdown and was canceled after one season. Its disappointing run suggests that any future installment would need to better expound on its central scientific concept.

Orphan Black does, however, have some material that could inspire an adaptation. Beyond its five-season television run, the franchise has expanded into comic books and an audio series featuring Maslany as narrator. However, whether HBO Max chooses to pursue that possibility remains to be seen. For now, fans can stream all five seasons of Orphan Black on HBO Max and Peacock.

Release Date 2013 - 2017-00-00

Network Space, BBC America

Showrunner Graeme Manson

Directors Ken Girotti, T.J. Scott, David Wellington, Grant Harvey, Helen Shaver, Aaron Morton, Brett Sullivan, Chris Grismer, Peter Stebbings

Writers Aubrey Nealon, Karen Walton, Tony Elliott, Peter Mohan, Sherry White, Jeremy Boxen, Kate Miles Melville, Greg Nelson, Jenn Engels, Nikolijne Troubetzkoy