You go ahead. I have sensitive skin.
Prison Break ends its four-year run next month, and executive producer Matt Olmstead has absolutely zero regrets. Well, maybe just one. That's an atypical attitude from a producer of a cancelled show with a rabid fan base, but Olmstead isn't sweating it.
"At the wrap party, there was a real sense of accomplishment," Olmstead said on a conference call this morning. "There was no feeling of 'we got cut short' or 'we could have gone more years.' It feels as though the story got [told in its entirety]."
Most of that feeling comes from the way Olmstead and his team set up the final season, which returns this Friday for its final episodes. Because the producers "kind of knew all along" that this would be the final season of Prison Break, they were able to set up storylines from the very beginning of the cycle. In fact, Olmstead sees the early signs of the show's end (cancellation doesn't seem like the right word here) as a "benefit," because he was able to get the big ending he wanted.
The show's fans probably won't see it that way, but Olmstead feels that the show ended at the right time, partly because he doesn't know where it could have gone.
"The ideas that were tossed around in terms of what could be season five were pretty thin," he explains. "Even if it went that way, it would've limped out. … [No ideas for season five] really took hold in terms of inspiring anybody."
Olmstead promises some shocking moments and plenty of loose ends tied up in the upcoming episodes. There will be several familiar faces, but Olmstead chooses to highlight one, who he says will come into the mix "when the wheels are coming off for everybody, and [he/she] is there to either save the day, or hijack the entire thing for his/her own benefit."
Even the Michael and Sarah storyline isn't immune to some major bait-and-switching. "For a while there, it felt like they were kind of Bonnie & Clyde, and it worked for one episode," he says of the two. But once they were together, the producers had to decide what to do with them. "What seems like two people joined at the hip who want the same thing" will be thrown for a loop in the finale.
Awwww, Mom!
As for future Prison Break possibilities, Olmstead isn't holding his breath. The previously announced spinoff featuring a female prison isn't looking good, because they couldn't get the actress they wanted, the writers strike derailed the momentum on the project, and another show with a strong female lead (Terminator) wasn't doing well in the ratings. "It's on the ground, legs twitching, but there's still a heartbeat perhaps," Olmstead says of the spinoff's chances.
But there will be one last chapter in the Prison Break saga before it goes completely dark. The standalone feature Prison Break--The Final Break was originally planned as part of this season's storyline, but as production went on, it got bumped back and back in the process until there was no room for it. But because Olmstead liked the idea so much, he pitched it to Fox, who loved it.
The series finale features a jump forward in time as its last act, and The Final Break will be set before that jump but after the rest of the events of the finale. According to TVShowsOnDVD.com, The Final Break will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 21.
Prison Break has had its share of questionable moments, but ask Olmstead the one Prison Break moment he maybe regrets and could have done without, and he doesn't hesitate--Michael getting all his tattoos removed overnight. Actor Wentworth Miller's skin was getting irritated by the tattoo application, and they couldn't simply shoot the rest of Prison Break with the actor in a long-sleeve shirt. So instead they sent him to a magical top-secret tattoo removal place.
"It was a bit of a wank," Olmstead says.
Prison Break returns this Friday with an all-new episode at 9 p.m. on Fox, and a replay of the mid-season finale at 8 p.m.
Comments (24)
I just want to say that I understand the show got cancelled, and that it had to end, but Michael Scofield should not have had to die. I also understand that maybe you were trying to keep his self-less personality by taking his life to save the ones that he loves but I honestly feel extremly disappionted, that the one person in the entire show, who was decent, who kept on risking his life for the sake of others, so that they can be with their families and loved ones, dies and doesn't even have the chance to be with or even see his child. It is just an extremly disappionting ending. I can think of several scenerios in which Scofield remains alive. Some being with the show still ending and some being with the the show continuing. I just do not understand or accept the death of Scofield. As I said before... extremely disappointing.
-- Disappointed Prison Break fan =/moreless
The ending is so sad, Michael is going to die in the end:( But however it is the best show ever from FOX tnx all:)
nice and we will see
Good riddance...The storyline has become so convoluted and the writing has gone from bad to worse. Season 1 was incredible, but it went downhill from there.
The final, i think, ti will be awsome!!
XO XO
:):):):)
i cant wait to see final sesone and im so intrsted in this tv show
I totally agree with Tortured_Mike and the others thinking season 4 is a good way to finally end the series. It's all about bringing the Company down. Of course season 1 was about breaking out but once it wasn't done, they weren't free at all. That's why they had to run in season 2. I don't really remember season 3 because I gave up after watching Boxed In. But when I heard season 4 would be the last, I changed my mind and decided to watch the show again. So I think it's a great news for the fans because like someone mentionned shows like The X-Files jumped the shark.About The Final Break, I hope they'll air it because I won't buy the DVD. Who do they take us for ?Last but not least I hope Sara will free herself from Michael because he doesn't deserve her. Seriously if you read my last review it's the writers fault. In season 1 her character was so interesting but then she became Michael's ghost.moreless
can't wait to see the ending. i kno it's gonna be great. i think they had an amazing run.
Glad to see one of my favorite shows getting its proper ending. I am very excited to see it again tonight, kills me to see it end but you know it had to come soon i guess.
Can't wait for the final part, its about time you know. But it's been a nice one
I'm just glad there finally ending it. I mean season 1 was good and season two was still pretty fun to watch, but then it was like come on and finish it already. As it is Fox would be extremely stupid to cancel the Terminator series as they will need something to take Prison Break's monday time slot alongside 24 and House just doesn't do it.
I'm glad Michael and Linc get a proper ending and we will know what happens to them with The Final Break! Can't wait to see that!! I will miss it though but they are right it couldn't have gone on for much longer!!
It's really nice that the series is getting a proper ending. Although I haven't really kept up with the series, I'll tune in for it. And that idea about a female prison actually sounded pretty interesting.
I'm glad that the show is really having an ending. It was a nice run while it lasted and it's just good the show wasn't canceled out of nowhere so we have an actual ending to look forward to.
Ziceva...How could this show ending after season 2 have been perfect. The whole POINT of this show, the main reason behind everything is The Company. If they just escaped and left at the end of season two, then the show would have been pointless. Season 4 is necessary as it is all about trying to stop them once and for all. Which is really the whole point of the show. Show maybe, from your biewpoint season 3 could have been done without and it could have just gone straight from the ending of season two to the story of season 4 quite easily. That's fair enough.. But I actually enjoyed season 3 a lot so I'm glad it's happened this way.
The final break is not part of the extended 24 episode run and will not be featured on the series 4 DVD. It will be released on it's own like "24:Redemption" so you will have to buy it on it's own. This way, they make double the money off fans. The story of Prison Break will end with "Free". The movie is set before the flash forward scene at the end of "Free" and is a stand alone story.
I wanted the Final Break to be televised notput on the DVD only. I am fan dont get me wrong but I dont want to get the DVD just for the "88 minute featurette". I dont see the point in re-watching a drama where youknow how it will end up. A comedy is somewhat different...and now I'm rambling. Cant wait till May 15!
As much as I like this show I think that this last season was somewhat redundant. If in the rest of this season they can draw some conclusion on the conspiracy then I think overall the show will have been a success. Hopefully Fox won't leave us all completely hanging like they typically do when they cancel a show.
I see everybody saying that ending the show after season 4 is the best idea and that this way everything is perfect ... IT'S NOT ... if the show ended with season 2 it would have been perfect ... endind it now it's not ending it, it leting it die its slow death ... I can't belive that everybody forgot the first two seasons ... those were the true masterpieces ... 3 an 4 were only dead weight ...
I agree. I Love this show, but really how far can they take it?? I glad they will get to finish all the stories & end it right.
As Soon as season 4 started with the storyline of them trying to take down the company.. I knew this would be the perfect season to end it.
I have loved all four season but I am glad this show is going out at the perfect time unlike other shows who's last seasons carried on too long and ended up as rubbish (Buffy, The X Files)
Im glad the show is ending now while its going strong.
Not bad for a show that was only suppose to be one and done.
Sounds good! Im looking forward to the last couple episodes and the Prison Break "Movie"!