Interview: Wentworth Miller of 'Prison Break'

August 29, 02:06 PM

It's rare to hear a network television star sing the praises of jumping the shark, but Wentworth Miller of Prison Break does just that.

"I think we not only jumped the shark long ago, I think we're inventing new sharks," Miller says proudly. "We're taking it to a whole new level. Fasten your seatbelts."

Few shows flaunt their gaffes in logic and plausibility as proudly as Prison Break, which is now in its fourth season of shocking character deaths, unexpected resurrections, gaping legal loopholes and jaw-dropping cliffhangers. The show has spent two years living up to its title and forcing its core group of characters to escape from a pair of prisons and another season with them on the run from the law. This year, Michael Scofield (Miller) and his Injustice League will spend the season trying to bring down The Company, the shady organization responsible for so many of their problems.

Talking to reporters in advance of the show's Monday, Sept. 1 premiere, Miller says he sees the positives and negatives of being on a show that so regularly has to reboot its premise.

"[I]t keeps it interesting. First and foremost, most other TV shows are in the habit of figuring out their winning formula and then beating it into the ground whereas we take what we already know works and toss it out the window at the start of every season, which I think is very bold and ambitious and it certainly provides a new playground for the actors," he says, continuing, "That said, I've been more comfortable with some seasons than others. My favorites so far has been one and three because I actually think that my character works best behind bars with very real, physical, deadly obstacles to surmount whereas second season was a total change of pace and a real downshift for me and was one of my least favorite seasons because it felt as though my character was literally and figuratively riding shotgun, much more reactive than active. That can be frustrating. But like I said, it's most important for a show that's running 67 episodes at this point to keep it as fresh and as exciting for the actors as possible."

When the show began, the premise focused on an innocent man getting himself thrown in jail to save his somewhat-less-innocent (but still wrongfully accused) brother (Dominic Purcell). But as the seasons have passed, Michael's quest for exoneration has actually caused him to commit more than a few major crimes, violates that would, under normal circumstances, carry decades in jail as a penalty.

"I think that Michael is still a good man. But at this point, I think it would take something quite extreme for him to really even the score because in order for his brother to go free, so many people have died in the process and I think that weighs terribly on Michael's conscience," Miller acknowledges. "Once this experience is over, once say they successfully destroy the conspiracy, there is no returning to his white collar existence as a structural engineer. I mean I think the only thing that Michael is kind of fit for at this point is as a hired gun, which actually dovetails quite nicely with the directions he takes."

That's why Miller knows that Prison Break can't last forever.

"Well, it's not CSI. It's not Law & Order. It can't run forever," he says. "I do feel as though we may be on one of our final laps around the track. It is something that weighs on my mind from time-to-time. Telling a story correctly necessitates knowing when to end it. At this point in the series, Michael and Lincoln, between them, have intentionally or unintentionally killed so many people and yet, they're still running around with T-Bag. It's really a testament to Robert Knepper that his character has survived through four whole seasons, but the man is a maniac, a psychopath and a child killer and a rapist. And yet, he and the boys are still digging ditches together. Eventually, you have to wonder when is enough enough because it really makes my character look bad. These are the questions that I think eventually we have to answer or else suffer a fall off in terms of believability and quality."

A few other highlights from Miller's chat with the press:

On the return of Sarah Wayne Callies' Sara Tancredi: "I think that we address it as plausibly as possible. It helps that the show is kind of fantastic and I feel like we've gotten away with worse. But at the same time, we do provide an explanation and we don't tease the audience. It's not a flash of Sara's ponytail disappearing down an ally for the first episodes, everyone wondering when she'll actually make a face-to-face with Michael. She's back first episode. Michael and Sara reunited, and then the gang hits the ground running because there's work to do."

On Michael's tattoos, which also return in the premiere: "The tattoo is addressed pretty definitively in the very first episode. It's funny; it was a fan favorite the first season, but then Michael escaped -- mission accomplished. Suddenly, it was just something that kind of had to be born rather than be something that could be used as a plot device. That resulted in me in Dallas in 120 degree heat wearing long sleeve shirts because we're still pretending that I actually have the damn thing on. I appreciated the tattoo and I think it's addressed in the first episode of Season Four as something that's kind of emblematic of Michael's experience, that this is an experience that has left its mark. It's not something that can be easily washed off and it speaks to the fact that Michael is now a changed man inside and out."

On which departed character he'd most like to have back: "I think I'd bring back Paul Adelstein. I thought he was a fantastic Agent Kellerman and I thought was symbolic of the kind of character that the show does best, which is someone living within the shades of gray. Not entirely black, not entirely white, not entirely good, not entirely evil, but someone who is complicated as we all are in real live. I think Paul really did a beautiful job of defining a character who could be vicious one minute and entirely sympathetic the next. He's very much missed."

in Interviews , Prison Break

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Comments (25)

Comments

Oh please this crappy show is a rehash of season 1 and 2 it has nothing good,Won't watch it's horrid!

Lala | Aug 29, 2008 7:21:38 PM | #

its a brilliant show.i will watch it thousand times.so will many other people.

riz | Aug 29, 2008 7:57:08 PM | #

I see Teletubby posting inane comment. Run away.

Crafty Matthew | Aug 29, 2008 10:26:01 PM | #

This is one of the best tv shows out there and I'll never get tired of watching it. I think the casting is brilliant and it works well for the show. I hope this is not their last season. At least 2-3 more seasons will do. I hope more people discover and watch this show. Cheers.

NASIR | Aug 30, 2008 6:57:44 AM | #

I loved the show...In seasons 1 & 2. I do however feel that season 3 was a big letdown, and I hope that the show gets back on track in season 4. I for one NEVER believed that Sarah was dead, you never even saw her in season 3, except in a picture. If the show does not find it's footing in this next season, I hope FOX will just end the show and not just keep beating a dead horse. By the way I find it strange that Wentworth did not like the show as much in season 2 when I feel it was almost on par w/ season 1, but he liked season 3, when the whole season did nothing for me and the 5 million viewers it lost.

Justin | Aug 30, 2008 10:06:21 AM | #

i don't usually write comments like this, but wentworth miller is one of the best looking guys on tv. maybe THE BEST LOOKING now that MOONLIGHT is cancelled.

dolly | Aug 30, 2008 10:20:41 AM | #

That's actually an amusing interview, to acknowledge that your show is, well, crap. I enjoyed the nonsense of it all for the first season. One episode into the 2nd and I gave it up for good. All the intrigue and fun were gone for good. Still, that's a funny interview.

Brandon | Aug 30, 2008 12:50:03 PM | #

Season 3 was a total stinker. It was boring, meandering, annoying, and almost made me quit watching the show. I hope season 4 is much better. I'm giving the show another chance, but if it doesn't hold my interest, I'm gone.

Lisa | Aug 30, 2008 7:37:22 PM | #

i think its a good show but i agree with miller that the show will lose its quality if it doent realise enough being enough and end it ryt about after this season...will miss wentworth terribly, have fallen really hard for him:)

Rimdiq | Aug 30, 2008 9:41:57 PM | #

Season 3 actually made me fall back in love with the show after a dismall season 2.

Meiko | Aug 31, 2008 8:00:38 AM | #

I have loved Prison Break since episode #1 and have found all 3 seasons to be exciting, intriguing, and lots of fun to follow. Heres to a few more seasons!

Bill | Aug 31, 2008 12:07:15 PM | #

I think Wentworth Miller is one of the most intelligent actors in Hollywood. Can't wait to see what he does next. I do hope that Season 4 can resurrect the show after a disappointing Season 3

Mrs. Miller | Aug 31, 2008 8:48:14 PM | #

We worked sometimes 18hrs a day in Dallas on season's 2 & 3 of Prison Break. We gave it our all and how were we treated, we were tossed to the curb. No respect for the ones behind the scenes who truely made the show. Thanks!! I will never watch this show again!

leinaD | Aug 31, 2008 10:30:34 PM | #

Just because the show's name is Prison Break, it doesn't mean it has to stay true to physically 'breaking out of prison'. There are many different types of prisons, both figurative and literal. There are those created and maintained by our justice system, the elite and the lowest dregs of society. Then there are those of our own making. I love this show and would like to see the coming seasons explore other 'prisons' to be escaped.

V | Sep 1, 2008 10:41:16 AM | #

It did fine once, twice, and leave it at three. Not that great to start w/and fizzled outin season 3 anyway... the shootings/deaths alone have been unbelievable, even for TV.Who gets away w/all that and just keeps slippin'away?THRILLKILL!!! C'mon. The whole series was never more than a glorified soap opera and just as predictable. Watch it slide.....

area53 | Sep 1, 2008 11:30:42 AM | #

I love this show. I've been hooked since the first episode. I will admitt that season 3 was not as good as the rest but it's still an incredible hour of television. I told my hubby it's like riding a roller coaster for an entire hour. This show always leaves me sitting on the edge of my couch with my mouth hanging open.

I have a crush on Michael Scofield. He's like a superhero!!!!

Prison Breaker | Sep 1, 2008 1:23:53 PM | #

A ludicrous show like Prison Break gets a fourth season while Jericho, a drama with much more potential, got axed in its infancy. Life is so unfair.

IggyPop | Sep 1, 2008 5:23:29 PM | #

I think Prison Break is the best show on television. I think Wentworth Miller is a wonderful actor. I have watched the show from the beginning and will continue to watch the show until the end. I loved tonight when Michael found out that Sara is still alive. WOW!!!

Rainbow24 | Sep 1, 2008 8:44:25 PM | #

I watch pro-wrestling. Everything else makes much more sense in comparison.

That being said, no matter how you look at it, PB is still a fast-paced action show that's worth the price of admission (only an hour of your life) and it'll have some yuks along the way.

pakopako | Sep 2, 2008 6:44:40 AM | #

I enjoyed season 1, but after that it just got ridiculous. I only watched seasons 2 and 3 as a way to pass the time waiting for "24" to come on afterwards. I'm not sure if I'll even do that this year. Might pass the time with a good book instead.

KatieT | Sep 2, 2008 8:20:43 AM | #

KatieT | Sep 2, 2008 8:22:06 AM | #

I was a huge fan of this show during season one! and went into season 2 exciteed, but i missed so many episodes... when i returned to watch it they were in prison in Mexico... so i kind of gave up... I watche the season 4 premiere and was confused as hell... but i wont say the show is bad because i havent seen all of seasons 2 and 3... and plus i hate when ppl who havent watched a show in order talk about how bad it is... [See: LOST]

namar | Sep 2, 2008 11:25:51 AM | #

OK, now that season 4 has officially begun, I can honestly say, that this show has returned to the level of brilliance as seen in season 1. The writers have completely turned this franchise around. The show has a new feel to it. Almost a Punisher/Oceans 11 feel to it. Just watch it. You will honestly be amazed. Just trust me. This show is a must see.

NC | Sep 3, 2008 7:05:53 AM | #

Im so excited about whats gonna happen in season 4. MICAHEL SCOFIELD, ur d man!!!

Hope i can meet u someday coz im a big fan of urs.

yeL | Sep 10, 2008 1:12:00 PM | #

I have have watched this show backwards. As to story quality I gave the lowest rate to Season 1, the only good thing is that I've seen Went topless several times in this season. But I'm going to watch PB even at 10 seasons more because Went is in it! Great actor, intelligent person. You've got a long way to go. Audience have opposing opinions but Fans will watch you in whatever movie because just because YOU are there.

wentlove | Oct 22, 2008 1:38:01 AM | #