According to Deadline, details about the plot of the new Prison Break installment remain under wraps; however, sources suggest that Elgin James’ (The Outlaws, Mayans M.C.) version will be an original story set within the same universe. Unlike the original series and its Fox follow-up, this reboot is not expected to feature Michael Scofield or Lincoln Burrows, played by Wentworth Miller (The Human Stain) and Dominic Purcell (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow).
James is spearheading the project as executive producer under his Sierra Drive production banner, working closely with Dawn Olmstead (The Experiment), who has been heavily involved in development. Original Prison Break creator Paul Scheuring (Den of Thieves), along with Marty Adelstein (Hanna) and Neal Moritz (The Fast and the Furious), also return as executive producers.
The pilot order follows Deadline’s 2023 exclusive, which states that 20th Television was developing new Prison Break take with James for Hulu. Since then, progress has been made. In July, Adelstein told Deadline, “It’s going really well. The first script was really, really well done. They’ve given notes, and it looks like it’s on its way.”
Hulu’s decision to pilot an hourlong drama is notable, as such orders are rare. Previously, Hulu greenlit Death and Other Details through this process, which later went to series. Hourlong pilots are less common than half-hour ones, such as the recent Mid-Century Modern and YA dramedy Phony, both of which advanced to series.
This new Prison Break chapter marks James’ first major project since concluding Mayans M.C., his FX series co-created with Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy), which ran for five successful seasons and ended in 2023. James is also known for his work on the BBC/Prime Video series The Outlaws, co-created with Stephen Merchant (The Office), which wrapped up earlier this year after three seasons.
The reboot has also benefited from renewed interest in the original 2005 series, which gained traction after returning to Netflix in July 2024 for a limited 18-month run. All five seasons remain available on Hulu as well. In August 2024, Prison Break was the #1 most-streamed series in the U.S., topping Nielsen’s weekly Top 10 Streaming Ranker across both Netflix and Hulu. Over the first 10 months of 2024, the series accumulated nearly 200 million streaming hours, ranking among the Top 10 acquired series during 10 different weeks.
Beyond television, James is acclaimed for his 2011 directorial debut, Little Birds, starring Juno Temple (Atonement) and Leslie Mann (Knocked Up). The Sundance Film Festival selection earned a National Board of Review Award. He also co-wrote Lowriders (2017) for Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment.
Although casting has not yet begun, sources suggest that James might collaborate with familiar talent from his previous projects. Fans can anticipate exciting developments as the reboot takes shape.
James is represented by WME, Hunting Lane and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.