MICHAEL SCOFIELD (Wentworth Miller) is a desperate man in a desperate situation – his brother, LINCOLN BURROWS (Dominic Purcell), has been convicted of a sensational murder and is on death row in Fox River State Penitentiary. Despite the evidence against Lincoln, Michael is convinced of his innocence. With no other options and the clock ticking toward Lincoln's execution, Michael holds up a bank to get himself incarcerated alongside his brother. Once he's inside, we learn that Michael – a structural engineer with the blueprints for the prison – has hatched an elaborate plan to break Lincoln out and prove that he was framed for the crime.

Combining the hope of "The Shawshank Redemption," the camaraderie of "The Longest Yard" and the tense procedure and spectacle of "The Great Escape," the series promises to reveal additional pieces of the puzzle each week as Michael carries out his daring plan to mastermind the ultimate prison break – and solve the far-reaching national-scale conspiracy that landed him and his brother there in the first place.

PRISON BREAK is created, written and executive-produced by Paul Scheuring ("A Man Apart"). Brett Ratner directs the pilot episode and serves as executive producer, along with Matt Olmstead, Marty Adelstein, Neal H. Moritz and Dawn Parouse. Michael Watkins is co-executive producer.