'Social Distance': Team behind 'Orange is the New Black' creating series about life in isolation

The show hopes to 'capture a moment in time'

'Orange is the New Black' creator Jenji Kohan is behind Netflix's new 'Social Distance' show. Netflix

The coronavirus pandemic has halted TV and film production around the world. And while soap operas such as Neighbours may be up and running again, it isn't the same for every set.

So, the team behind Orange is the New Black have come up with Social Distance, a new anthology series that suits the restrictions of our times.

The experience of social distancing is currently universal, but no individual story is the same. Through a broad spectrum of tales, we hope to capture a moment in time

Jenji Kohan, Tara Herrmann, Hilary Weisman Graham and Blake McCormick have teamed up to create the show about life in lockdown.

“We feel passionate about finding connection as we all remain at a distance,” the team said in a statement announcing the series.

“We’ve been inspired to create an anthology series that tells stories about the current moment we are living through — the unique, personal, deeply human stories that illustrate how we are living apart, together. We are challenging ourselves to do something new: To create and produce virtually so that our cast and crew can stay healthy and safe," they add.

"The experience of social distancing is currently universal, but no individual story is the same. Through a broad spectrum of tales and moments, some seismic and some mundane, we hope to capture a moment in time.  And we hope that Social Distance will help people feel closer to one another."

Typical life on the 'Orange is the New Black' set, without social distancing. Netflix

They add that director Diego Velasco (who directed one episode of Orange Is the New Black) will helm the show remotely, while show runner Weisman Graham will run production from her living room and the to-be-revealed cast will film themselves at home.

No further details on cast, storyline or when we may see the show on Netflix have been announced.

Joel McHale interviewed 'Tiger King' stars remotely for a reunion show. Netflix

This will not be the first Netflix show to have been created at a safe social distance. Comic Joel McHale hosted a Tiger King reunion special, The Tiger King and I, from his living room.

For the interview special, he gathered a selection of stars from the docuseries and spoke to them via video call.

"How does it feel to be turned into a meme? Is the wi-fi signal at their homes strong enough for a one-on-one interview?" he joked at the start of the show, "Hmm, those questions and more are about to be answered."

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