Prison Break is heading back behind bars. Hulu's new series, Prison Break: Black Creek, announced the start of production in September 2026, bringing a fresh cast to the world Paul Scheuring created for Fox more than two decades ago.
Before the next escape, here is our fan's guide to the original seasons, the 2017 revival and what we know about the new show. Find more tribute designs in our TV Series collection.
Prison Break Fact File
| Original run | 29 August 2005 – 15 May 2009; revival 2017 |
|---|---|
| Created by | Paul Scheuring |
| Network | Fox |
| Main cast | Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Robert Knepper, Amaury Nolasco, Sarah Wayne Callies, William Fichtner |
| Seasons/episodes | 5 seasons, 88 episodes, plus TV film The Final Break |
| Setting | Fox River State Penitentiary, Illinois; later Panama and Yemen |
Seasons
| Season/Year | Episodes | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 (2005–2006) | 22 | The plan to break out of Fox River |
| Season 2 (2006–2007) | 22 | The escapees on the run across the US |
| Season 3 (2007–2008) | 13 | Michael held in Sona, Panama |
| Season 4 (2008–2009) | 22 | Taking on The Company and the hunt for Scylla |
| The Final Break (2009) | TV film | Concludes the original story |
| Season 5 (2017) | 9 | Revival set in Yemen |
The four original seasons aired on Fox between August 2005 and May 2009, with the third season running to just 13 episodes. Adding the nine-episode 2017 revival gives 88 episodes, with The Final Break counted separately.
The Plan Behind Fox River
Paul Scheuring's idea was simple and gripping. Structural engineer Michael Scofield, played by Wentworth Miller, deliberately gets himself sent to Fox River State Penitentiary to free his brother Lincoln Burrows, played by Dominic Purcell, who has been wrongly convicted. Brett Ratner directed the pilot, and the cast included Robert Knepper, Amaury Nolasco and Sarah Wayne Callies.
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On the Run and Into Sona
Season two took the story out of the prison and across America. Production moved to Dallas, Texas, while Pensacola, Florida, stood in for Panama. Season three then placed Michael inside Sona, a Panamanian prison run by its own inmates, for a shorter 13-episode run.
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The Final Break and the 2017 Revival
Season four turned the brothers against The Company in the hunt for Scylla, and the TV film The Final Break wrapped things up in May 2009. Fox brought the show back on 4 April 2017 for a nine-episode revival set in Yemen, with Miller and Purcell joined by returning favourites including Robert Knepper, Amaury Nolasco and Sarah Wayne Callies.
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A New Chapter at Hulu
Hulu's new series comes from Elgin James, creator of Mayans M.C., with Paul Scheuring as an executive producer. A pilot was filmed in West Virginia in June 2025, and Hulu ordered it to series in October 2025. Emily Browning stars as Cassidy Collins, a former soldier turned corrections officer, alongside Lukas Gage and Drake Rodger. It features new characters, and no premiere date has been announced.
Awards
Golden Globes
- 2006: Nominated for Best Television Series, Drama
- 2006: Wentworth Miller nominated for Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama
People's Choice Awards
- 2006: Won Favourite New TV Drama
Primetime Emmy Awards
- 2006: Ramin Djawadi nominated for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
Behind the Scenes
Much of season one was filmed at the former Joliet Correctional Center in Illinois, a prison built largely by convict labour in the 1850s that closed to inmates in 2002. As production went on, about half of the scenes moved to Chicago soundstages and locations. Ramin Djawadi composed the theme and incidental music.
FAQs
How many seasons of Prison Break are there?
There are five seasons: four on Fox from 2005 to 2009 and a 2017 revival.
How many episodes of Prison Break are there?
There are 88 episodes across five seasons, plus the TV film The Final Break.
Where was Prison Break filmed?
Season one was largely filmed at the former Joliet prison in Illinois and in Chicago.
Who created Prison Break?
Paul Scheuring created the series for Fox.
Is there a new Prison Break series?
Yes. Prison Break: Black Creek, from Elgin James, is in production for Hulu, with no premiere date announced yet.
Who plays Michael Scofield?
Wentworth Miller plays Michael Scofield, with Dominic Purcell as his brother Lincoln Burrows.
Shop the Prison Break Collection
Plan your own great escape in style with our fan-made Prison Break tribute designs.
Explore more favourites in our TV Series collection, or design your own with the Custom Name Men's Hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Breaking Bad: Seasons, Cast, Emmys and the Story So Far and The Walking Dead: Seasons, Cast, Spin-offs and Legacy.
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