Wentworth Miller, who portrays Michael Scofield, recently announced that he is no longer interested in playing straight roles and officially resigned from Prison Break. His announcement has far-reaching consequences on the hit drama series, which has earned a cult following with him as the lead.

His exit leaves the fans of the show disappointed as they were waiting for the sixth season, which has been rumored to be in production since late 2019. Without Scofield, the prospects of a sixth season are dim, although some fans can’t help but hope for it. Since the entire show revolves around Miller’s character, it may be impossible to produce the season without him.

Scofield Is Irreplaceable

The name Michael Scofield is practically the alternative title of Prison Break. Scofield has been the mastermind of each prison break in the show since the first season, with his biggest motivation being his love for Lincoln and Sara. If Scofield is not in the picture, the show would have to part with the Scofield/Burrows family and friends’ love story, which will mean producing an entirely different show.

Michael Scofield is also the name that comes to everyone’s mind whenever the show is mentioned. Bringing in a new protagonist would ruin the show. Besides, who could create prison breaks as intense and interesting as Michael Scofield?

Loss of Continuity

Prison Break is known to come up with some super-interesting plot twists that have kept fans glued to the show for years, but Michael Scofield is the one character they never play around with. The entire show revolves around the different crises in Scofield’s life since he decided to break his brother out of Fox River.

Every new season builds on what happened to him in the previous season. Season 5 ended with Scofield happily back together with his wife and son with the CIA eagerly seeking his services. His sudden exit from the sixth season would mean breaking away from the show’s tradition and maybe cooking up some story to explain his absence, which may create too many plot holes.

The Title Will Lose Meaning To Scofield’s Fans

Prison Break is more of a love story than a crime drama, which is why Michael Scofield’s relationship with Lincoln Burrows and his love for Sara means so much to the fans. To Scofield’s fans, Prison Break is a one-person resistance to oppressive systems, not just breaking out of literal prisons.

Scofield’s story can be summarized as a “love conquers all,” tale of how one genius can stand up to the government and powerful individuals to protect his family and friends. While season 6 can bring another person that can help break out of structures, it will be hard to recreate the Prison Break these ardent fans are used to.

Sara Would Have To Go

Sara Tancredi falling in love with Michael Scofield changed Prison Break forever since the two are now inseparable. Her roles in the show diminished after the first season, but she is still Scofield’s biggest motivation to do what he does best.

If Scofield is out of the picture for the sixth season, Sara will be turned into a relic. Michael Junior will also lose meaning because he was the new reason Scofield would fight to get back home. Sad as it sounds, fans will have to watch the two important characters diminish or get wiped out altogether, which would hurt the current legacy of the hit show.

Fernando Sucre Would Have To Go

Michael Scofield saved Fernando Sucre from the biggest nightmare of his life of having to face a life behind bars, and for that, he became Scofield’s brother. After the first season, Sucre was reduced to Scofield’s right-hand man, which was a bother for many fans, but the show still managed to keep him useful.

Sucre is always an important piece of Scofield’s plan as he always came through in places where you couldn’t trust anyone else to defend Michael. With Scofield gone, Fernando’s confused face as he watches Scofield pull off miracles will be gone. Whatever the script comes up with for Sucre, it will never match his value for the show as Scofield’s only true brother from Fox River.

T-Bag Will Lose Meaning

T-Bag was wrong about many things in Prison Break, but he was right when he said he is just as good as Scofield at surviving the worst situations. T-Bag survived just like the rest of the crew, although his methods were a lot more cruel and evil.

The fifth season was also part of T-Bag’s redemption, with Whip coming in as the good Bagwell, although it never lasted. T-Bag’s motivation to live was initially finding revenge on Scofield; then, he tried to live to thank Scofield for saving his family. If the sixth season comes without Michael Scofield, Theodore Bagwell won’t have much to live for.

Lincoln Is Too Dependent on Scofield

Lincoln Burrows is always the muscle, while Scofield supplies the brains whenever the brothers need to get out of trouble. Lincoln’s methods work sometimes, but his survival depends on how well his brother’s plans work. Season 5 gave Lincoln a leading role as he worked to break Scofield out of Sanaa in Yemen, but he couldn’t come up with any smart plans that worked on his own. Prison Break needs all that muscle, yes, but without the brain, it will turn into a Prison Brawl, which is why Lincoln alone cannot head the sixth season of Prison Break.

There Will Be Too Many Plotholes

Prison Break is too wrapped around Michael Scofield to be smoothly converted into another main character’s story without any plot holes. Scofield has lots of enemies, some like the company may not be completely defeated yet. Scofield’s family is also an important part of the story, which cannot be quietly swept under the rag. Even if Fox decides to come up with a new story for season 6 to explain Scofield’s absence and still create Prison Break, there is no way they will answer the countless questions fans will have about Scofield and his current crew.

The Story Will Have To Change

The cast of Prison Break has not changed much throughout the five seasons because the show highly depends on each of the characters. Lincon and Michael have been the two indispensable characters, and if one of them were to go, especially Michael, Prison Break would have to turn into something else.

While there are no rumors on what direction the troubled season may take, it is clear that for the first time, it will not be about Scofield and Burrows saving one another and their families while at it. Fans will have to brace for a totally different story, which must include the disappointment of the loss of Michael Scofield.

Disappointed Fans

Michael Scofield is more than just a character in a Drama Series. He has a cultic following as a criminal mastermind on his own. None of the other Prison Break characters have a following as huge as that of Scofield. Taking away the Al Capone of TV from the show will disappoint lots of fans.

The first two episodes of season 5 had poor reviews on IMDB largely because Michael Scofield was not there. Removing him from an entire season would require lots of investment in a smart replacement to ensure that fans don’t miss Michael, which will be an uphill task. The result will be lots of disappointed fans, which will only hurt the show in the end.