Fox
“Prison Break” was a standout series of the early 00s that garnered a new generation of fans due to streaming platforms. It was among shows like “24” and “Lost” that led the trend of serialized narratives on network TV. Unlike episodic TV shows that allow viewers to watch sporadically, “Prison Break” wove an intricate ongoing story, compelling viewers to tune in weekly in anticipation of the story’s progression.
The gripping plot revolves around two brothers, Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) and Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), who find their lives turned upside down when Lincoln is falsely accused of murdering the vice president’s brother. With Lincoln on death row in a maximum-security prison, Michael resorts to armed robbery to land himself in the same prison with a plan to break them both out.
“Prison Break” was acclaimed for its thrilling twists and captivating reveals that enthralled audiences. Despite a dip in momentum after the first two seasons, it managed to run for four seasons and a movie before its first cancellation. It was then revived for another season before facing cancellation once more.
Throughout its run, “Prison Break” introduced a host of memorable characters, many of whom met tragic and shocking ends. One such character was Sara Tancredi, portrayed by Sarah Wayne Callies, who quickly became a key part of the story and the prison break team, only to face a sudden exit. This raises the question: Did Sara Tancredi really die in “Prison Break”, or was it a ruse?
Who is Sara Tancredi?
Fox
Sara Tancredi first enters the series as the physician at Fox River State Penitentiary. Michael meets her when he fakes a diabetes diagnosis to gain regular access to the prison infirmary, a crucial part of his escape plan. She quickly develops feelings for Michael and becomes an active accomplice in his prison break by unlocking the infirmary door.
Regrettably, Sara becomes a suspect in aiding the group’s escape, causing her to leave her home and go on the run in search of Michael, evading the police and Agent Mahone (William Fichtner), and being tortured by Paul Kellerman (Paul Adelstein). Eventually, Sara becomes integral to the plot to prove Lincoln’s innocence, and they resort to blackmailing the president for a group pardon. When this fails, Sara, along with Michael and Lincoln, flees the country to Panama. The second season concludes with Sara shooting an agent trying to apprehend the brothers and Michael taking the fall.
In the third season, Sara is abducted by the enigmatic and powerful organization known as The Company. As punishment for Lincoln’s refusal to cooperate, he is given a box containing what appears to be Sara’s decapitated head.
Does Sara Tancredi die in Prison Break?
Fox
Despite Lincoln’s belief that he saw Sara’s decapitated head, the season 4 premiere reveals that she is, in fact, alive. She had successfully escaped her kidnappers, and The Company had sent a fake head to manipulate Michael and Lincoln. After reuniting with the brothers, the trio sets out to take down The Company once and for all. The fourth season ends with a glimpse of Sara carrying Michael’s child, a storyline expanded in “Prison Break: The Final Break”, which depicts their wedding and Michael’s apparent demise.
In the fifth and final season of “Prison Break”, viewers catch up with Sara. Assuming Michael was dead, Sara had relocated to New York and married a man named Jacob (Mark Feuerstein). Unfortunately, he is revealed to be the rogue CIA operative leading cell 21Void and responsible for Michael’s most recent imprisonment.
Why Sarah Wayne Callies’ Sara Tancredi wasn’t in Prison Break season 3
Fox
Although “Prison Break” managed to navigate through the 2007-2008 writers’ strike with minimal disruption, the series faced its share of challenges. Executive producer Matt Olmstead revealed to TV Guide that their initial storyline pitch was rejected, prompting them to find a fresh motivation for Michael. This led to Sara’s brief exit from the series as a decapitated head in a box. Olmstead stated, “To make the season work, we really had no other motivation for Michael. We decided this was the right course of action to really invigorate the series.”
Initially, Callies was invited to appear in a few episodes rather than continue as a regular throughout the season. Her contract stipulated a return only for a full 22-episode season, so returning for fewer episodes necessitated negotiations. As Callies was pregnant and living in Canada, relocation for filming proved challenging. Instead of devising a way to feature Callies in more episodes, Olmstead and the team proposed reducing her role further and further, even suggesting limiting her appearance to a phone conversation, which she understandably rejected.
Following the negative reception of season 3 of “Prison Break”, the producers decided to resurrect Sara, a not uncommon occurrence on the show.
What happened to Sarah Wayne Callies after Prison Break?
AMC
After “Prison Break”, Sarah Wayne Callies landed the role of Lori Grimes, wife of main character Rick Grimes, in “The Walking Dead”. She was part of the main cast for the first three seasons until her character was killed off. She then joined the dystopian sci-fi drama “Colony” alongside Josh Holloway, playing a secret Resistance operative and bar owner, following the immense success of the zombie drama.
In film, Callies starred alongside Nicolas Cage in “Pay the Ghost”, a supernatural thriller about a man searching for his kidnapped son while being haunted by spectral images. Most recently, she portrayed Birdie in the Hulu limited series “The Company You Keep” alongside Milo Ventimiglia.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
