Creator Paul Scheuring Discusses the Resurrection of ‘Prison Break’

Pricilla Kumar

Viewers may remember the shocking ending to the series finale of “Prison Break” as the extermination of notorious Fox River State Penitentiary inmate Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) nearly seven years ago. The plot story followed Scofield deliberately getting sent to the same prison as his innocent brother Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) in order to break him out from the inside.

However, scattered throughout the final episode were telltale signs that all is not what it seems to be – and Michael’s death became somewhat of a puzzle. In his aftermath, Michael leaves behind his new wife Dr. Sara Tancredi (Sarah Wayne Callies), and brother Lincoln who has successfully escaped prison.

Showrunner and director Paul Scheuring exited the show in 2009 after working nearly four years with the highly popular franchise. Recently, Fox released a brand new promo, which shows a very much-alive Michael Scoffield and is filled with more action, a new location, and a brand new way to break out of a prison. Scheuring spoke with Entertainment Voice to discuss just how he chose the location of the resurrection, the return of original cast members, and what fans can expect from “Prison Break” season 5.

What are your thoughts on returning back to the show after your exit?

It’s a little surreal. In this new day and age of everything coming back, it is actually nice to come back and explore nine more episodes of the show. We had to do a short, close-ended run because one of the biggest problems about network television ten years ago is each season had to be 22 episodes. That is such a grind – after four years, you are so run down. A nine-episode based series is much more appealing.

What were the beginning stages of resurrecting the show?

Dominic and Wentworth were working on other shows. They were talking amongst themselves about how great it would be for a comeback for a little bit. Then they came to me, and I thought that it would be possible as long as it was short. Apparently, Wentworth’s character died at the end of the series, and we had to figure out how to bring him back to life. That is one of the challenges TV writers experience – when they kill somebody off.

How important was it for the original characters to make a return in terms of the new story development?

I used the J.J. Abrams model that he used when he brought back “Star Wars.” He was wise to bring back Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, and you had that original emotional engagement. Then of course, you have to make it new and bring in the new generation. It is the nice molding of the old and new, and the show wouldn’t be the show without Wentworth, Dominic, Sarah, and Robert Knepper. We brought in three or four major characters and it is a good hybrid of the two.

Did you ever think ‘Prison Break’ would be revived with a new storyline?

This literally all transpired within the last 18 months, which is a seven-year period after the show came off air. We are all moving on to other things and not thinking about it. It is great when your show is considered to have legs and still feel fresh and new, and shows that hold up well are a great achievement.

What are the challenges in the writing room that you had to overcome with plot and character development?

What’s interesting about “Prison Break” is a lot of the staff was relatively young and new writers when we first came out with the show, and they are all now running their own shows. All these people have moved on in their careers. So, we brought in some other heavy hitters like Vaun Wilmott and we’re in good hands.

Was there any other critical responses to bringing an old show back?

My greatest concern was resurrecting Michael Scofield back to life. We really haven’t had any questions or push-backs on that. I made it a mystery, I didn’t just want him to pop back to life and say, “Hello!” I wanted his return to be a central piece of the season and how he could be alive. I am glad we did it this way, because that could be a nonstarter for a lot of people. If he is alive again, then forget it – they won’t watch the show. Then the return is the reason why people want to watch the show.

Do you expect another season?

There is a lot of excitement about the show coming back from the actors, to the network, and the fans for another season. For me, personally, for the show to come back again it would have to be from such a great idea. We are not doing this just to get “Prison Break” back on air. The ideas have to be on par from season one. That’s a huge bar to clear. Who knows, there is definitely a buzz out there. The network has to get good enough ratings, and from my end the story has to be so perfect that it’s worth doing.

What new elements can the audience expect?

What is nice about having nine episodes is that there is no time to stall or stare at your bellybutton lint as a storyteller. You have to charge ahead on an emotional level and with plot level; there is no time to waste. I hope people will watch the new season and will be blown away. The story will take place in the Middle East because I wanted it to be the most inhospitable place for a group of American men to try to break out of. Obviously tapping into some of that ISIS madness and the teetering governments, where nothing is what it seems.

What projects are you currently working on?

I just finished up my novel “The Far Shore” which launched this month and is available on Amazon. That, too, is a great page-turner and mystery novel that has a lot of heart and is a spiritual quest at the end of the day. That I am very excited about, and then I have a movie with Paramount that is coming out soon.

“Prison Break” episode one airs Tuesday, April 4 at 9 p.m. ET.