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Prison Break‘s No. 1 inmate is making a permanent escape from the franchise.
Wentworth Miller, who for five seasons starred as jailbird Michael Scofield on the Fox drama, has announced that his involvement with the series has come to an end.
“I’m out. Of PB. Officially,” he declared to fans in an Instagram post on Sunday, before explaining, “I just don’t want to play straight characters. Their stories have been told (and told).
“So… no more Michael,” continued the actor, who came out as gay in 2013. “If you were a fan of the show, hoping for additional seasons… I understand this is disappointing. I’m sorry.”
After wrapping its four-season run on Fox in 2009, Prison Break was revived by the network in 2017 for nine-episode fifth season. The following year, network president Michael Thorn confirmed that “a new iteration of Prison Break” was in the “very early stages of development.” Fox’s then-CEO Gary Newman later revealed that the new season “would not [feature] an entirely new cast,” adding that series creator Paul Scheuring “had an idea for another season. He came in and pitched it. But it’s super early. We haven’t seen any written materials yet.”
A Fox source, meanwhile, tells TVLine that a sixth season of Prison Break is not currently in active development.
Two of Miller’s Prison Break co-stars are publicly backing his decision to walk away from the series. Commenting on Miller’s Instagram post, Dominic Purcell wrote, “Fully support and understand your reasoning. Glad you have made this decision for you health and your truth.”
Miller’s leading lady Sarah Wayne Callies wrote in her own Instagram post on Monday, “Yesterday, Wentworth Miller announced he’s done playing Michael Scofield because, as a gay man he wants to focus on playing gay characters. With gratitude for all the work we did together, and with deep love, I’m voicing my support for that choice.”
Callies went on to write, “To all the fans, know this: the cast of Prison Break is a queer-friendly space. We stand with — and among — our friends and family in the LGBTQ+ community with full throated support for their rights and artistic work.”
LMAOOOOOOO!
It just gets dumber and dumber.
That he wants to use his clout as an activist, rather than an actor? He didn’t say gay people can’t play straight characters or vice-and-versa. He only said his priority now is reaching out and supporting LGBT+ youth and he wants to focus on acting roles that advance that goal.
As much as I don’t like hearing it’s over, as a fan I have to admit season 5 was an extreme stretch with the exception of Michael being alive. That being said I wish he would return to Legends as Captain Cold. He was the best character in season one and but be great with the current cast.
And Captain Cold is gay, so it’s possible. It’s certainly true that we need more high-grade actors making more high-grade gay cinema and TV. I think he was a bit envious with all the great stuff that Matt Bomer and Jim Parsons are getting these days (as, I think, most straight actors would also want).
No, Captain Cold was not gay (at least not the original one: There was a Captain Cold from an alternate earth that was). But if it means Miller comes back as Captain Cold, they should absolutely bring in the alternate earth version – I really like Miller’s take on the Captain!
You do realize he’s a grown man and is perfectly within his right to make this call about projects/roles he’s interested in? That’s his business and if this is where he is in his life–more power to him. He’s not hurting anyone.
Imagine thinking that letting someone feel comfortable in their own skin is dumb.
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If I were an actor, I wouldn’t want to play a gay character, personally. I’m not sure why a gay person should have to want to play straight.
That’s why THEY CALL IT “ACTING”. Work is work.
This guy is laughable. Typical wannabe elitist AFTER he got the role that made him self sustainable financially. “Suddenly” he grows a conscience for the cause?? Do your job. . . . A C T
That’s just you.
…said the dum-dum who is ignorant to other people’s lives and choices.
I am disappointed, big Prison Break fan, but I completely get it.
We have more than enough seasons. The basic concept ran out of gas quickly and just repeated itself. Besides, we’re at an ending now where everybody’s happy and together, so let’s just leave it there.
I like both Wentworth and Dom, but I thought PB did all it was going to do pretty early in it’s run and dropped it. Miller’s work elsewhere was better and more interesting, and certainly after the last four years of nightmare, it’d be very kind of him to help the community – especially the at risk kids.
I think that is very narrowing but, it’s his choice!
As a gay man he is probably very keenly aware of how many roles that leaves him in comparison to accepting a wider range.
And in a position to make new ones, and take the ones that become available. Ryan Murphy has been making whole runs of different product filled with LGBT characters that have been successful.
Roles are changing. If you look outside ‘Merica, say…Europe, Australia, you see plenty of LGBT represented characters. Opportunities are only narrowed when the mindset of a society is narrow. Thank God that is changing.
As much as I love Prison Break and have always really liked Wentworth. That said, I thought Prison Break was already done after the last installment.
I wonder if he’ll next say he’ll only play roles of gay mixed raced characters. That way he’ll totally be representing all sides of himself. I’m for it either way.
I would think acting as you really are isn’t much of a stretch for an actor. If you want to be an activitist, make that your occupation then.
So literally every straight actor who has won an award for their acting ability should turn the awards back in just if their character was straight too? Sexual orientation isn’t the only identifying characteristic that an actor can use to portray a character. And there isn’t just one way to portray a gay character, just like there isn’t just one way to portray a straight character, so even as a gay man portraying a gay character, he can still stretch his abilities as an actor regardless of his or the character’s sexualities.
Not all gay people are the same. There are thousands and thousands of straight characters who are all vastly different and are all vastly different than the straight people playing them. Why can’t it be the same for gay people and gay characters? It’s not activism, he just wants more roles for gay people, he wants more representation, he wants to tell more stories about gay people.
Straight actors playing straight characters that have different personalities, different experiences, are from different time periods, and so on, is a stretch and shows range so there’s no reason to believe that the same can’t apply to a gay man portraying various kinds of gay characters.
Why can’t one be more than one thing?! I’m many things in my job and career. Most actor have charities they support.
How did David belisario die.
Is this why he quit playing the original more interesting captain cold?
Nah, CC was gay too. He could still play him.
Some of that Big Bi Energy
The original wasn’t gay: an alternate Earth one was.
Wentworth Miller… WOW what a hunk…. it’s enough for one to watch any show he is in….
While disappointing, I understand his motivations and support him! I’m excited to continue to support him going forward
I liked PB but I can appreciate his decision. Dominic’s and Sarah’s comments are sweet. They’re a class act.
I am unsure why an announcement you’re no longer going to play a character who hasn’t been on the air for years, and when there’s really no talk of the show being in development again is necessary, but you do you, Wentworth. Season six was an embarrassment and SWC knew it and would never a done a six anyway, so who even cares?
You’re probably unsure because of the simple fact that, like any of us, you’re not him. I don’t mean that in a rude way, but realistically he has probably been approached by a lot of fans over the years asking about/hoping for a sixth season, and now he’s making it openly clear that it isn’t in the cards for him. If such people exist, that would answer your question of who cares.
Beyond that, Dominic Purcell has been hinting at it hopefully happening for quite awhile so even though that was never official talk, it was talk in general that was picked up on from the shows fanbase.
Just a little different perspective to consider.
I do appreciate this perspective. It seems like he gets bombarded by questions about if there will ever be another season on his Instagram, probably best to put it to bed for good.
well, you’re unsure because you have no idea at all what was being discussed. There is certainly a reboot being batted around, perhaps with some of the old characters thrown in.
Nah, I know Dominic Purcell occasionally teased the idea on his social media in an attempt to keep fans engaged with him. There was no change a season 6 would ever happen after how horrible s5 was.
how gay
Miller can do whatever he wants, obviously, but you would think he would also want to play an employed actor. Good luck. Nobody really screaming for more Prison Break after that dud reboot a few years ago anyway.
i really don’t care what roles he plays…i just really enjoy his talent and hope to see him again soon, and often!
i think it should go down to the fact prison break ran out of story to tell and they dont need more prison breaks, season 4 was evidence of that
and season 5 was good at first but i didnt care for the latter half except tbag and whip relationship
im curious if this means wentworth wont return as snart, i mean his crisis on earth x version yeah he could but the main version from flash and legends
I always wondered if he was gay. I never saw Prison Break, but seeing him play in The Flash, etc, made me wonder.
Good for him…. hope to see him in something else soon!
i do hope he can come back as crisis x snart for arrowverse, cause wentworth is too awesome to pass an opportunity on, granted its his decision
I guess he’s not interested in acting anymore, since he apparently only wants to play characters who are versions of himself.
I’m not saying he’s wrong to be making this choice; it just seems to me – as a theatrical actress myself — to be a self-limiting one.
As a “theatrical actress yourself”, are all of the characthers you’ve played that are the same orientation as you are just versions of you? While his choice my be limiting in that sadly there are still less good LGBTQ roles, saying that by only playing other gay characters they’d all be just versions of himself is not fair.
So, we know you’re not an actress – just a propagandist. Obviously, if we flipped that to a straight actor choosing only straight roles (as most do) you’d have no problem. And it sounds like you think there is one gay man in the world?!?
Wait, do you actually think all gay people are just variations of the same person? Does that mean you think all straight people are variations of the same person?
The show stretched the premise already. I am not sure where they want to try to take it but maybe quit while ahead. I was more disappointed when he decided to leave Legends.
Good luck to Miller.
I’m convinced this comment section is just people trolling. Yay Wentworth! Hope he shows up in something soon.
Oh well. I think they should have officially retired it after the last reboot so this is cool.
Maybe he could play a gay cowboy on Yellowstone. that would get the bunkhouse rockin!
trying not to get too off topic but no one is bringing up the issue of what would season 6 been about, michael breaking out or breaking someone else out of another prison, yeah i mean its great if you like that story but its repetitive and not in a good way
the most i feel they could have done and this would go down as maybe the whackiest twist in tv history is send michael to hell and he’d have to break out of hell, i mean tbags line of saying he could end up king of hell just struck that idea into me
then again the prison escapes were the best parts of the show, i wont lie, i did not care at all to see them battling the company like some generic cop or government agent drama, when they did that in season 4 and 2 it wasnt prison break to me anymore, it was something else
Wow….. can you imagine the outcry if a straight actor came out and said he no longer wants to play gay characters, only straight. They would be banned from Hollywood.
Depends on the reasoning. A straight person saying they don’t want to play a gay character because they’re uncomfortable or homophobic, yeah, that would require an outcry. If they want to avoid gay roles so that actual gay actors can play them, nothing wrong with that. Miller wants to create more stories and have more representation for gay people. Straight people don’t need that.
Why would it deserve an outcry that a straight guy didn’t want to play a gay role because it makes him uncomfortable to kiss other men? Homophobic, sure, outcry. Uncomfortable… I don’t see why any actor should be forced into roles that make them uncomfortable.
Because that it literally what actors do – doing things that make them uncomfortable. Outside the comfort zone. That’s what being an actor is about !
Sounds good to me.
Lmao nope!
Darren Criss literally proclaimed that he will no longer be playing LGBTQ roles and that they should go to LGBTQ actors, and there was zero outcry. He’s still working just fine.
Stop trying to make controversy where there is none, Anne.