Is Prison Break based on a True Story? Ending Explained
by Rubaditsha
Updated Apr 19, 2023
Is Prison Break based on a True Story?
Lifetime has a reputation for producing TV movies based on real-life events, and its latest effort, New York Prison Break: The Seduction Of Joyce Mitchell, is no exception. Inspired by the infamous 2015 escape of two convicted murderers from Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York, the movie tells the story from the perspective of Joyce Mitchell, a prison tailor who was arrested for aiding the men in their escape.
Mitchell reportedly smuggled tools to the inmates in frozen hamburger meat and agreed to pick them up after their escape. However, she later backed out and pleaded guilty to the charges against her as part of a plea deal.
The movie is set to premiere on April 23 and portrays Mitchell as an easily manipulated woman who is seduced by the two prisoners, with a trailer that portrays a love triangle. The film is a typical Lifetime guilty pleasure flick but is all the more dramatic because it is based on a true story.
Prison Break Plot
Prison Break is an American television series that premiered in 2005 and ran for five seasons. The show follows the story of two brothers, Michael Scofield (played by Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln Burrows (played by Dominic Purcell). Lincoln has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and Michael, a structural engineer, hatches a plan to help him escape from prison.
Michael deliberately gets himself arrested and sent to the same prison as Lincoln, the Fox River State Penitentiary in Illinois. He then uses his knowledge of the prison's layout and his engineering expertise to design an escape plan that involves breaking through the walls and tunnels of the prison.
As the show progresses, Michael and Lincoln encounter various obstacles and challenges as they try to escape from prison and clear Lincoln's name. Along the way, they enlist the help of other prisoners, including the tough and resourceful Fernando Sucre (played by Amaury Nolasco) and the brilliant but troubled Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell (played by Robert Knepper).
The show also features a number of other characters, including Michael's love interest Dr. Sara Tancredi (played by Sarah Wayne Callies), who works as a prison doctor, and Agent Alexander Mahone (played by William Fichtner), a federal agent who is tasked with tracking down the escapees.
Throughout the series, Michael and Lincoln face numerous challenges and obstacles, including betrayal, unexpected alliances, and dangerous enemies. The show also explores themes of family, loyalty, and the criminal justice system. Overall, Prison Break is a thrilling and suspenseful show that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as they follow Michael and Lincoln's journey to freedom.
Prison Break Ending Explained
The Prison Break limited series event has come to an end with the final episode airing on Tuesday. The season finale saw Michael Scofield (played by Wentworth Miller) finally reunite with his family after seven years away from his wife Sara (played by Sarah Wayne Callies) and their son, during which time the world believed him to be dead.
The conclusion of the season involved long-term planning, mobile framing, and even murder, but ultimately Michael is free for the first time in years, albeit at a cost. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Wentworth Miller stated that although Michael is now reunited with his loved ones, he has been living a nightmare for years and would be haunted for a long time.
He may experience paranoia, insomnia, anxiety, and even a taste for darker, illegal things. This opens up the possibility for new stories to tell about Michael's not-so-smooth re-entry into civilian life. Despite envisioning the fifth season as a closed-ended story, Prison Break creator Paul Scheuring has started coming around to the idea that there may be another breakout in the future.
However, this is only possible if Scheuring and his team can come up with a top-notch story. He has stated that there is a zero percent chance of the show coming back if they can't come up with the right idea.
Regarding the season finale, Scheuring's goal was to tell a rip-roaring and close-ended tale with a ton of action, emotion, and twists, filled with brain-bending strategy. Like any great feature film, the intention was to create a self-contained season that could also stand alone if there were ever to be a sequel.
Scheuring revealed that structurally, a lot of this season was inspired by The Odyssey, and the ending was guided by that story. The main antagonist in The Odyssey is the suitors who were after Penelope, and the team wanted Michael back in Ithaca to confront a very powerful suitor.
Michael outsmarted him, just as Odysseus outsmarted the suitors. Although Michael appears to be free and clear, and the sun is shining, he's brought back with him this extraordinary paranoia, and he'll never be the same man. However, some of the nuances of the ending got lost in translation during production, so it plays a little bit more like a straight happy ending.
Regarding the decision to end the show at Fox River, the iconic place where the series began, Scheuring stated that they knew what the first and last frames would be from the start.
They thought it would be great to finish up at Fox River, and that's where T-Bag also ends up, earning a little bit of happiness this season when he finds that he has a son. The finale ends with a little nudge-nudge and wink-wink to Prison Break fans, going back to Fox River and showing that there's going to be a murder.
Prison Break Review
Prison Break is a popular American television series that originally aired from 2005 to 2009, with a fifth season in 2017. The show tells the story of two brothers, Michael Scofield (played by Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln Burrows (played by Dominic Purcell), who are on a mission to escape from prison and clear Lincoln's name after he is wrongfully convicted of murder.
The show is known for its suspenseful plot, intense action scenes, and strong character development. The relationship between Michael and Lincoln is at the heart of the series, as they work together to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and stay one step ahead of the authorities.
The show also features a talented supporting cast, including Sarah Wayne Callies as Dr. Sara Tancredi, a prison doctor who becomes romantically involved with Michael; Robert Knepper as Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell, a sadistic and manipulative inmate; and Amaury Nolasco as Fernando Sucre, Michael's cellmate and loyal friend.
Overall, Prison Break is an engaging and well-crafted series that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. While the later seasons can be somewhat convoluted and unrealistic, the show's strong performances and memorable characters make it a must-watch for fans of action and suspense.
Is Prison Break based on a True Story: FAQs
Yes, the movie is inspired by the infamous 2015 escape of two convicted murderers from Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York, and it tells the story from the perspective of Joyce Mitchell, a prison tailor who was arrested for aiding the men in their escape.
"Prison Break" is an American television series that premiered in 2005 and ran for five seasons. The show follows the story of two brothers, Michael Scofield (played by Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln Burrows (played by Dominic Purcell). Lincoln has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and Michael, a structural engineer, hatches a plan to help him escape from prison.
The season finale saw Michael Scofield finally reunite with his family after seven years away from his wife Sara and their son, during which time the world believed him to be dead. However, the finale reveals that Michael may experience paranoia, insomnia, anxiety, and even a taste for darker, illegal things, leaving the possibility for new stories to tell about Michael's re-entry into civilian life.
The creator, Paul Scheuring, has started coming around to the idea that there may be another breakout in the future, but it's only possible if they can come up with a top-notch story. He has stated that there is a zero percent chance of the show coming back if they can't come up with the right idea.