Hulu Brings ‘Prison Break’ Back from the Dead (Again) for Spin-Off Series
In true Michael Scofield fashion, it seems Prison Break can mastermind its way out of anything — including two trips to the TV network graveyard.
According to Deadline, Hulu is locking down a new iteration of the former Fox “break-out” drama with Mayans M.C. showrunner Elgin James attached as writer and executive producer.
Notably, the creator of Prison Break, Paul Scheuring, will return as an executive producer on the project. Additionally, original series EPs Dawn Olmstead, Marty Adelstein, and Neal Moritz have signed on. 20th Television, which produced the original series, ordered the franchise spin-off.
Prison Break fans will recall this isn’t our first rodeo with a Hulu revival.
The prison drama, which aired on Fox from 2005-2009, followed Wentworth Miller’s Michael as he attempted to break his wrongly accused brother Lincoln (Dominic Purcell) out of Fox River Penitentiary. The show became an instant hit thanks to its ensemble of compelling characters and larger-than-life sets.
The show had such a thriving cult following that after years of demanding justice for Season 4 and Michael’s death in the 2009 TV movie, Fox/Hulu revived the show for a short-lived Season 5 to tie up loose ends.
Additional seasons of Prison Break were considered. As People reports, Fox then-CEO Gary Newman confirmed Scheuring had pitched a Season 6 shortly after Season 5 aired in 2017. Newman also suggested the scripts would not completely abandon the original cast for a new ensemble.
However, creative issues and time resulted in the show’s second demise.
Sadly, we have come to a point in this streaming hellscape where reboots of shows are getting revivals.
An almost all-original team of EPs is a promising start to winning fans over with a new concept, but that’s where the familiarity is likely to end.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that the developing project would not follow any “central” characters from the original Fox River crew. However, it would be set in the same world as Prison Break — a fact that opens up the potential to revisit old sets and see legacy characters return in some capacity.
As for the two brothers who started this phenomenon, Michael will not reprise his life of crime. In a 2020 Instagram post, Miller formally said goodbye to the character, stating he no longer wanted to play straight characters and felt the story had been told.
So, can the premise designed for short-term success finally break free from its pitfalls without Scofield? We shall see.
—
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Alicia Gilstorf
Alicia is a Rotten Tomatoes Certified Critic and a Critics Choice Association member. She credits her passion for TV to workplace sitcoms, paranormal dramedies, and coming-of-age stories. In her free time, Alicia loves to curl up with a good book and lose herself in a cozy game. Keep a lookout for her coverage of Ghosts. You can also find her work on Eulalie Magazine and Cool Girl Critiques. Follow Alicia on social media: @aliciagilstorf