After some initial doubts, it became clear this week that Laura Prepon will return in her role as Alex Vause in Season 2 of Netflix’s Orange is the New Black.

Netflix released photos this week of the new season of the hit series that showed Alex Vause is back.

Prepon had reportedly not signed on as a series regular for the show’s second season, but the photos make it clear her character will appear for more than just what was initially rumored to be just four episodes.

While the photos did not give much away in terms of plot, they do indeed show Alex Vause in different scenarios with the other inmates. One shot shows Vause with character Piper Chapman wearing normal clothes, which may be a flashback scene. Another shows Vause alongside other inmates dressed in business attire for a job fair.

Prepon’s character Alex is the ex-girlfriend of the show’s lead character, Piper Chapman, played by Taylor Schilling. Piper is a young, bisexual woman who was sent to prison for carrying drug money for Alex, and the two meet again in prison.

The show is based on Piper Kerman’s memoir and was adapted by Jenji Kohan, who was also behind Weeds. The popular series was renewed for a second season last June, weeks before it even premiered on Netflix.

“It’s a true ensemble,” Schilling told People.

“In season two, we’ll see how Piper’s story continues, but the show also gets wider and deeper to tell the stories of even more of the women,” explained Schilling.

Viewers can catch Season 2 of Orange is the New Black on Netflix on June 6, when it will be released in its entirety.

Image via Wikimedia Commons