Prison Break Reboot Unveils Major Update as Streaming Comeback Nears
Breakout news: Hulu has greenlit a Prison Break reboot, Variety reports, setting up a fresh escape just as the franchise returns to streaming after a year in development.
Hulu just made it official: a new Prison Break is happening. Before you ask, no, this is not Michael and Lincoln suiting up for one more improbable escape. This is a fresh story set in the same world, with new characters and a new mess to get out of. Honestly, that is probably the right way to do it.
What this new version actually is
The reboot has been in the works since last year and is now greenlit at Hulu. It lives in the original series universe, but it is a clean slate story with a brand-new lead and crew. The hook is straightforward and grim in a good way:
"An ex-soldier turned corrections officer (Browning) takes a job at one of the deadliest prisons in America to prove just how far she'll go for someone she loves."
So, not a tattoo map situation this time. And yes, there is a character named Michael in the new cast, but he is not that Michael. More on that below.
Who is in it
- Emily Browning as Cassidy (the ex-soldier turned CO at the center of it)
- Drake Rodger as Tommy
- Lukas Gage as Jackson
- Clayton Cardenas as Michael, also known as "Ghost" (the name is a choice, I know)
- JR Bourne as Junior
- Georgie Flores as Andrea
- Myles Bullock as Darius, also known as "Red"
Who is making it
Elgin James is writing, running the show, and executive producing. He is also directing the pilot, which should set the tone out of the gate. Original creator Paul Scheuring is on board as an executive producer, which helps keep the DNA intact without dragging the old plotlines back from the grave.
Timing note
All of this drops just as the original series is headed back to streaming. Smart bit of synergy, even if the new show is its own thing.
Quick refresher on the original
Created by Paul Scheuring, Prison Break premiered in 2005 on Fox and ran five seasons. The story followed engineer Michael Scofield, who deliberately lands himself in prison to bust out his brother, Lincoln Burrows, after a wrongful conviction puts Lincoln on death row. Michael worked the problem from the inside with a handpicked group of inmates and help from prison doctor Sara. The series was a genuine phenomenon, led by Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Sarah Wayne Callies, and Rockmond Dunbar.