LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- FOX is developing a 10-episode revival of its 2005-09 series "Prison Break," Fox Television Group's Gary Newman and Dana Walden announced to reporters at the top of their executive session at the TCA Summer Press Tour.
"Paul Scheuring came in and pitched a great story to bring the show back," said Newman. "He's going to bring back both brothers - played by Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell. And Paul's busy writing the first episode and a bible. Once we have those written materials, I feel confident we're going to be going straight to series with that one."
As for specifics, Newman added, "Some of the iconic characters from that show will be back. I don't think Paul knows exactly where he's going, over the ten episode arc, but it definitely will address some questions that were set up at the end of the series."
Among those questions: how will Miller's character Michael Scofield return from the dead following the events of the show's direct-to-DVD finale? Walden indicated, "I don't think he's going to completely ignore what happened in that episode, but what he pitched to us was a very logical and believable - in the world of 'Prison Break' - explanation for why our characters are alive and still moving around the world."
Other topics included:
-- Newman confirmed Gordon Ramsay's tweet this morning that he has entered into a new long term extension with the network, calling for him to produce "at least 80 more hours of television." That's in addition to seasons 15 and 16 of "Hell's Kitchen" (ordered back in December); season seven of "MasterChef" (picked up last month); and a fourth cycle of "MasterChef Junior" (which premieres in November).
-- Newman likewise revealed Bill Hader is going to be in the premiere episode of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" this year.
-- Walden indicated a second installment of "Wayward Pines" is "in very nascent stages." "It would be perhaps for us, another mini-series event, if Blake [Crouch] is prepared to lay that mythology into the book series," she said. "Again, they just started having conversations about it, but we're obviously pleased with the performance of the show this past summer, and we're interested in hearing what they come up with."
-- Walden also told reporters they're in negotiations with Marvel for a potential "X-Men" series. "We're hopeful we'll be able to announce something soon. We're not closed on a deal yet, but it's something we're definitely pursuing." Evan Katz, Manny Coto, J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay are among the previously indicated auspices spearheading the 20th Century Fox Television-based project.
-- And last, but not least, "Empire" co-creator Lee Daniels indicated during his show's panel that "without question there will be a spinoff of 'Empire'" at some point. No details of course were given.
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