Summary
Dominic Purcell expresses gratitude for the success of the original Prison Break but closes the chapter on his involvement in the reboot. The Prison Break reboot will be a new story within the world of the original show, potentially returning to familiar locations like Fox River State Penitentiary. The reboot could focus on a new group of prisoners inspired by Scofield’s escape, continuing the legacy of the original show while offering fresh storytelling opportunities.
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Original Prison Break star Dominic Purcell has offered his thoughts on the upcoming Hulu reboot. Just over five years after the show’s revival season, it was announced that Hulu was developing a Prison Break reboot based on the original show that featured Purcell as a man wrongfully accused of a crime that landed him on death row. Set to be written by Mayans M.C. co-creator Elgin James, the new show will reportedly not feature either Purcell’s character Lincoln Burrows, or his brother Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), who hatched an elaborate plan to break him out of prison.
Most recently, Purcell took to Instagram to react to the news, and thank fans for the success of the original Prison Break. Check out his post below:
Calling the original show “an extraordinary gift”, Purcell explained how he was surprised and humbled by the success of the show, but is adamant “that chapter has closed”. He also went on to wish the next iteration of the property well, even if it will not feature either himself or Miller.
How Can Prison Break Work Without Lincoln and Michael?
At this stage, Hulu’s planned Prison Break reboot is still only in its very early stages and details are sparse. However, it has been noted it is the intention for the reboot to be a new story which takes place within the world of the original show, potentially leaving the door open for a return to familiar locations such as Fox River State Penitentiary, which served as the setting for Prison Break season 1.
With Prison Break’s later seasons and its 2017 revival increasingly accused of pushing the boundaries of plausibility and failing to recapture what made the original season so successful, a potential return to Fox River and focusing on a new escape attempt may prove more fruitful. Moreover, by staying within the show’s already established world, the story of Scofield’s original escape would no doubt have become a thing of legend among Fox River’s present-day inmates.
The original Prison Break ran for four seasons between 2006 and 2009, and later received a season 5 revival in 2017.
Perhaps an entirely new group of prisoners, inspired by tales of Scofield’s bold plan and eventual break out, may take it upon themselves to hatch their own schemes. By taking this route, James and his team could still honor the legacy of the original show and continue to pay homage to its characters without actually having them appear. It would also help the show’s newest iteration return to what made Prison Break season 1 such a monumental success.
Source: Dominic Purcell/Instagram