Hulu Orders Pilot for New ‘Prison Break’ Reboot Set in Original Universe

Hulu has officially ordered a pilot for a new chapter of the hit television series ‘Prison Break,’ marking a significant return to the franchise that originally aired from 2005 to 2017. The new series is being developed by Elgin James, co-creator of ‘Mayans M.C.,’ and will be produced by 20th Television, a division of Disney Television Studios.

The reboot will be set within the same universe as the original series but will not include any of the original characters, such as Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows, played by Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell, respectively. This new iteration will feature a fresh cast of characters and their daring attempts at jailbreaks, though specific plot details are currently under wraps.

The decision to reboot ‘Prison Break’ comes on the heels of the original series experiencing a massive resurgence in popularity. After returning to Netflix in July 2024, ‘Prison Break’ quickly became the #1 most-streamed series in the U.S., accumulating nearly 200 million hours of streaming in 2024 alone. This renewed interest has clearly bolstered Hulu’s confidence in the project.

Elgin James will serve as the writer and executive producer of the new series, joined by a list of creatives who were involved in the original ‘Prison Break,’ including creator Paul Scheuring, and former executive producers Dawn Olmstead, Marty Adelstein, and Neal Moritz. Adelstein has expressed enthusiasm about the project, noting that the initial script was “really, really well done” and that the development process is progressing smoothly.

The original ‘Prison Break’ series, created by Paul Scheuring, followed the story of two brothers and their elaborate plans to break out of prison, unraveling a larger conspiracy along the way. The success of the original series led to multiple seasons and a made-for-TV film, ‘The Final Break,’ before concluding with a revival season in 2017.