Jan 14 2009 01:55 AM ET

'Prison Break' exclusive: Exec producer talks about the final season

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Prison Break
is going to that great, big slammer in the sky: Fox has announced that its once-signature drama will end its four-season run later this year. Exec producer Matt Olmstead tells EW exclusively that there was ”nowhere to go beyond this season,” adding that he ”didn’t want the show to become a parody of itself.” Ratings-wise, the decision was easy since viewership is down 22 percent from last year. Luckily, fans will get some closure. Break returns April 17 to air its remaining six episodes. Michael and Lincoln (Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell) will finally catch a break — at a huge cost — in May’s finale. Says Olmstead, ”There will be deaths.” But since Fox extended Break‘s 22-episode order by two hours earlier this year, that ”finale” may not even be the show’s last gasp. Olmstead has filmed a couple of extra segments that he says ”address a couple of other storylines [and] can play as a standalone [movie].” What’s more, there are rumblings that Break might get a stay of execution under somewhat different circumstances. Explains exec producer Dawn Parouse, ”I would love to do a show about a women’s prison. It would have to be a fresh start — if not by us, then somebody.”

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  • Dar

    I totally disagree that Prison Break has played out or could become a parody. That would depend on the writers. There are many ways the show could go. I think they are limiting themselves as to trying to stay true to the title only. I will miss the show very much and all the main characters!!

  • Dragon

    Probably one of the best shows of the decade, so why stop? Every episode has it’s twist in the story line. I would hate to see this show come to an end.

  • Aileen

    They could make it like the A Team and have a lot of fun in it. Have the brothers go against their mother and help all the people somehow effected by the company.

  • Anonymous

    I will take Prison Break anyway I can get it.

  • Alan

    I’m so glad it’s ending, and I’m a big fan. This show has become so over-the-top. I mean, how many years can they keep getting involved in this? It’s gone so far from where the show began. Not all shows should run forever like Law & Order, you know, some shows were only destined to be on the air for a few years.

  • Isabella

    Kill Michael, that’s what I want. I don’t hate his character, but I think it would be an interesting twist to the end of the series, and could stir up some emotions from the others. Or Linc, either one. I don’t think it’ll happen though. Maybe they’ll kill Sara again. Personally, since I’m such a huge fan of the previous seasons, I’m glad it’s ending, because it is becoming rather over-the-top. The only problem: what will happen to the cast members’ careers? The show is basically all they have, really. Maybe they’ll break out, but you never know.

  • Don Jariyasunant

    See folks! Even Matt Olmstead knows when t quit when your ahead. Tired of reading all these comments from people thinking the show could go on 2-4 more seasons.
    Wentworth Miller will become a big action star beyond Prison Break.

    • raven

      omg i totally agree about him becoming big bc of prison break. i was sad to see it go bc i thought it was just getting good im still shocked they quit bc that was a real popular show…. alot of movie stars get big with either a really big hit movie or tv show. they couldnt of picked a better cast

  • James

    I’m sorry for all PB fans. Don’t watch it myself but know how hard it is to have a show go off. Hope they find as satisfying an end as possible.

    • raven

      they end sucked they killed mike off

  • Cameron

    I think it’s time to call it a day. How many more times can they be double-crossed and betrayed by people they’re working with? How many more people have to “die?” Just give everyone a satisfying ending, so no one can complain that the show was abruptly canceled without any resolution.

  • t3hdow

    Thank god. Unlike Olmstead, I thought PB already hit self-parody in the middle of season 3′s Sona excursion plot (made all too irrelevant by Whistler’s hasty death) and season 4′s A-Team-meets-Mission-Impossible plot made the show far too ridiculous for its own good. Gone is the tense action that made season 1 a nail biting drama and now it’s as silly as CSI: Miami. PB should’ve ended strongly with two seasons like the writers originally planned instead of getting caught up into this current mess.

  • Sus

    I really loved the first two seasons, but the show started to lose steam pretty quickly. The beginning of this season, I thought, had alot of potential but it did not pan out. I stopped watching part way through the season. With the show being cancelled, I may watch the last few episodes for closure. After Michael found out he had a tumor, I just couldn’t watch the show anymore…it was too silly and painful to watch. Seriously!

  • Gr.73

    I’m a big fan of the show,but I’m also an even bigger fan of W.Miller.All the actors did their best and the show came to this point that there are little things unsaid.Let it end now that it is still on top.By the way I would like Michael to be killed.That would be a great end and a perspective for my lovely mr.Miller to start from the beggining(beyond Micheal).

  • Devastated

    I am really saddened at this news. I admit that Season 3 was dire but Season 4 is back on form. I will be really sad to see the end of this show. I hope we get a happy ending for Michael and Lincoln.

  • Paula

    I deeply upset that they are cancelling Prison Break! I have been a huge fan of this show since the moment it aired. I own a pet grooming business, and I am a breeder of Exotic AKC registered Pomeranians. I have Pomeranians named after this show.
    I think the writers and producers are wrong … PLEASE PLAY IT OUT!!!! AS LONG AS IT IS GOING WELL, THEN WHY STOP IT? You have one devoted watcher here as long as you keep the episodes coming!

  • Vicki

    I’ve only seen bits of season 3, and although I like some aspects of the show, I think the acting is pretty bad. A case in point: that glowering look that Michael gives all the time is insincere and overused. Some of the actors in this show are familiar and so much better than the show they’re in, it’ll be great to see them get back to more worthy work.

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