Prison Break is being brought back from the dead. The hit FOX series is returning to the network as a “Sequel” event series, which TV Line confirms has been ordered by the network.
This isn’t the first time the network has relied on a built in fanbase to launch a series that has already proved to be a success. Fox did the same thing with Kiefer Sutherland’s 24 series, which was brought back as a mini series titled 24: Live Another Day .
Prison Break , a successful drama starring Wentworth Miller, will be back for ten new episodes starring Wentworth Miller as Michel Scoffield and Dominic Purcell as Lincoln Burrows.
As for where this project will fit into the Prison Break universe, Chairman and CEO Dana Walden said of the new chapter, “I would describe it as a bit of a sequel. It picks up the characters several years after we left them in the last season of the show. The brothers will be back. Some of the iconic characters from that show will be back.”
Many fans of Prison Break will bring up the fact that lead character Michael died, but apparently the show will continue and doesn’t have any plans to ignore that factor. Chairman and CEO Gary Newman said at the TCA’s, “It’s going to take a little bit of a detour from where we left off [with the straight-to-DVD coda], but it should feel very satisfying and event-ized. Fans will be excited about seeing these characters back together again.”
He continued, “What [Paul] pitched to us was a very logical and believable — in the world of Prison Break — explanation for why our characters are alive and still moving around the world.”
It’s said this decision was made in part from the audience Prison Break gained from Netflix streaming after the series wrapped up.
Dana Walden on #PrisonBreak : It was one of the most successful library shows Netflix has platformed. A whole new generation has caught up.
— Debra Birnbaum (@debrabirnbaum) August 6, 2015
Fans of the original Prison Break show seem very interested if not completely excited that Fox has decided to bring back the show.
That happy dance you do because you know prison break season 5 is confirmed
— _Kulsum (@Kal_Polo) August 6, 2015
Prison Break is coming back!! Yasssssss
— Jake Rudeen (@Jake_Rudeen) August 6, 2015
I’m excited for new Prison Break. Zombie Michael seems like a great way to go. His other half has the experience.
— David Bedwell (@DavidBedwell) August 6, 2015
@EW This was one of my favorite shows, hands down!!!
— IgobyMikey (@I_go_by_Mikey) August 6, 2015
[Photo by FOX]