The Real Reason Prison Break Got Canceled
What happens when you take a pre-golden-age-of-TV network show and mix it with the mighty influence of Netflix? Just look at the remarkable resurgence of “Suits” in 2023 and 2024 to find out. This legal drama experienced an astonishing revival in popularity when it hit the streaming platform, proving that long-forgotten shows can not only be rediscovered but can thrive. Now, “Prison Break,” another classic from that era, seems poised to ride the wave of the streaming phenomenon.
“Prison Break,” a show that aired on Fox, is one of those series that would have thrived if it had premiered during today’s streaming-centric landscape. The story centers around two brothers: Lincoln Burrows, played by Dominic Purcell, who finds himself on death row for a crime he didn’t commit, and Michael Scofield, portrayed by Wentworth Miller, who devises an elaborate plan to spring his brother from prison, even going as far as committing armed robbery to land in the same facility. The show captivated viewers, particularly during its first two seasons, but became less coherent as it progressed. Despite this, it remains a hallmark of early 2000s television.
So, what led to the cancellation of “Prison Break” the first time around? The series ran for four seasons and a double-feature episode between 2005 and 2009 and was a significant hit upon its debut. However, anyone who followed it closely remembers that the third season was less well-received. Although numerous series were altered due to the 2007-08 writers’ strike, “Prison Break” managed to remain relatively unaffected, even if its third season was a bit shorter than planned. But that period did halt the development of a related spin-off titled “Prison Break: Cherry Hill,” which was set in a women’s correctional facility and ultimately never aired.
At the 2009 TV Critics Press Tour, Fox executive Kevin Reilly revealed that the fourth season would be the final chapter for “Prison Break.” He commented on the show’s impact, asserting, “Prison Break had a hell of a run, but the run has ended,” noting that ratings had significantly declined over its duration. Initially, the first season attracted an impressive average of 9.2 million viewers, but by the fourth season, that number had plummeted to about 6.1 million. Reilly attributed the cancellation partially to creative exhaustion, claiming, “You reach a point creatively where it feels like all stories have been told,” suggesting that they preferred to end on a high note rather than dragging it out.
The cancellation wasn’t the end of the story, though. In August 2015, Fox announced discussions for a fifth season of “Prison Break,” and by January 2016, it was officially in the works. This revival featured both Miller and Purcell returning to their iconic roles and was initially slated for ten episodes, though it wound up being nine. The fifth season debuted in April 2017, drawing in viewers until its close in May. However, hopes for a sixth season dwindled, and in 2019, Fox declared there were no current plans for new episodes. The fifth season averaged around 3.96 million viewers — relatively modest compared to ratings for leading shows at the time, but not a total disaster.
The final nail in the coffin for a sixth season came in 2019 when Disney completed its acquisition of Fox. Following that, Fox’s CEO Charlie Collier confirmed there were no plans to revive “Prison Break” or any of its other franchises immediately. Interestingly, Collier stated that they would be open to future stories if the creators presented a fitting narrative.
Despite no concrete plans for a revival, “Prison Break” has enjoyed a resurgence on Netflix, being hailed as the top show across various streaming platforms for several weeks. This newfound popularity raises the possibility that Disney might reconsider the franchise, paralleling how NBC greenlit a spinoff titled “Suits: LA” following the success of “Suits.” So while the show’s future remains uncertain, the door for its return remains slightly ajar, waiting for the right story to bring it back into the spotlight.
