How Hulu’s New Prison Break Reboot Will Differ From 5-Part Original Thriller Explained By New Star

Emily Browning, who will be leading the upcoming Prison Break reboot, has explained how the new show will differ from the original thriller series. The original Prison Break series, which followed the prison escape exploits of brothers Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) and Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), is considered a classic crime drama series. In 2023, a reboot with Browning attached was announced.

In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Ash Crossan for The Fox in our SXSW media suite, Browning opened up about what to expect from Hulu’s Prison Break reboot. While the actor didn’t give away any specifics, she did indicate the show will have a different vibe from the original. But it will also include plenty of elements to satisfy long-term fans of the original:

ScreenRant: There was a little announcement yesterday that you’re doing the Prison Break reboot. What are you excited to show us for it?

Emily Browning: So, a few people have brought it up today and I didn’t really know that anyone was talking about it yet. So I have no clue what I’m allowed to say. I’m excited about all of it. It’s very different to the original, but I think also hopefully very much in the same world. So, hopefully, people who liked the original will be into our new version of it. But I don’t even know if I’m allowed to say what my role in it is.

Although Browning isn’t giving away any specifics, there’s still plenty of information about the series that’s been reported thus far. The actor is expected to star in the Prison Break reboot opposite Lukas Gage. Other main cast members include JR Bourne, Myles Bullock, Clayton Cardenas, Georgie Flores, and Drake Rodger. Elgin James, co-creator of Mayans M.C., is showrunner.

The original show is considered a classic thanks to its compelling, brotherly duo, alongside the many other interesting characters that make up the rest of the cast. This led to some of Prison Break‘s best episodes being about characters the audience had grown to love finding themselves in dangerous situations, the suspense coming from how they would get out.

The reboot of the crime drama TV show promises to maintain the general premise of the original, with a prison escape plot being the core of the series. However, Browning isn’t giving away any plot details, though she signals the show will stand out from its previous incarnation. Just how it will do so remains to be seen.

Prison Break‘s reboot update comes after Hulu’s controversial decision to cancel their planned Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival. Although the classic supernatural TV show was axed from continuing, Browning’s update signals Prison Break is unlikely to meet the same fate. When more concrete information about the reboot arrives, though, remains to be seen.

Luckily, it seems like this new version of the show is going to retain the positive attributes of the original, while also switching things up to make it a more unique watch. Since a series order was placed by Hulu in October 2025, Prison Break‘s future is guaranteed, alongside the hope for a similar yet different approach from the original.