There are currently no official plans for a sixth season of Prison Break. Although Fox confirmed in 2018 that a sixth season was in early development, it was announced in August 2019 that there were no plans to move forward with the series.
A major factor in this was the decision of lead actor Wentworth Miller, who plays Michael Scofield. In 2020, Miller announced that he would no longer play straight male characters, including Michael Scofield, which would have a major impact on the series’ ability to continue.
In November 2020, Wentworth Miller officially announced:
“I no longer want to play straight men. Their stories have been told too many times. I don’t want to continue to contribute to the telling of them.”
Miller came out as gay and shared that he wanted to represent the LGBTQ+ community by choosing roles that reflected himself. He also added that while he was on Prison Break, he was under a lot of pressure, both personally and in public – to “hide” because he hadn’t come out publicly.
The hidden agenda and debate surrounding this decision:
Here are some of the issues that have been controversial or confusing for fans:
Michael Scofield is too iconic to ignore
Many fans believe that Michael’s role is not racist or negative towards the LGBTQ+ community, and that turning down the role just because the character is straight may be too extreme.
The series relies too heavily on one actor
Prison Break is an ensemble piece, but most viewers agree that Michael Scofield is indispensable. The fact that the series cannot continue without Miller also shows its dependence on one character, which is not ideal for a long-running series.
No plans to replace or expand the storyline
Instead of trying to build season 6 with surviving characters like Lincoln Burrows, Sara Tancredi, or Sucre, the producers left it completely open – which makes fans wonder: Did lack of creativity or internal disagreements also contribute to the “abandonment” of season 6?
LGBTQ+ fans are also divided
Some support Miller’s decision out of respect for his personal truth. But there are also opinions from the community itself that:
“Not every role needs to reflect an actor’s sexual orientation. Turning down an iconic role could deprive the community of an opportunity for positive representation in mainstream film.”
While Wentworth Miller has clear personal reasons and political stances, his decision still leaves mixed feelings. It affects not only his personal career, but also the legacy of Prison Break and what the series can become in the next season.
However, Hulu is reportedly developing a new version of Prison Break, set in the same universe but with a completely new cast of characters. The project is being helmed by Elgin James, co-creator of Mayans M.C., and overseen by Paul Scheuring, the original creator of Prison Break.
In addition, two of Prison Break’s main actors, Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller, will reunite for a new series called Snatchback, about a special forces team that specializes in rescuing hostages in dangerous areas of the world.
In short, although Prison Break season 6 will not be produced, fans can still expect new content related to the series’ universe in the future.
