“Prison Break” is an American drama series created by Paul Scheuring for Fox. It tells the story of two brothers: Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), who is sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), who devises a sophisticated plot to get his brother out of prison and establish his innocence. Once Michael is in the prison with his brother, his plan starts. But breaking out is not easy for the brothers. Their adventure and drama take them to unexpected places and other prisons. This makes viewers wonder if the locations in the show are real.
Matt Olmstead, Kevin Hooks, Marty Adelstein, Dawn Parouse, Neal H. Moritz, and Brett Ratner, who directed the pilot episode, all serve as executive producers alongside Paul Scheuring.
Where was “Prison Break” Filmed?
‘Prison Break’ was filmed in many places, including Illinois, Texas, California, New York, and Florida. The filming also took place outside the USA in British Columbia, Morocco, and Panama. The main filming began in April 2005. The fifth and final season started filming in April 2016 and finished in July of the same year.
During the filming of season 5, Dominic Purcell (Lincoln Burrows) had a serious accident on set. An iron bar fell on his head, breaking his nose and causing a severe head injury. Luckily, he recovered, and the shooting continued without much delay.
Chicago Metropolitan Area, Illinois
Joliet Prison: The most famous location of ‘Prison Break’ is Joliet Prison at 1125 Collins Street in Joliet. The prison closed in 2002 and was chosen to be the fictional Fox River State Penitentiary in 2005. Many prison scenes in the first season were filmed here, including Lincoln’s cell, the prison yard, and the infirmary. Some additional sets were built in the prison to fit the actors and make filming easier.
Chicago, Illinois: The filming team also set up in Chicago, located in northeastern Illinois. The Chicago O’Hare International Airport at 10000 West Balmoral Avenue was used for a few scenes. Additional scenes were recorded in Woodstock.
Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas
For filming big parts of the second and third seasons, the cast and crew went to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. This area has both rural and urban landscapes.
Dallas, Texas: In Dallas, the team used places like the former Coolers Liquor Store at 5423 South Lamar Street and the Union Station at 400 South Houston Street. The Sona scenes, set in the fictional Penitenciaría Federal de Sona, were filmed at the Former Swift-Armor Meat Packing Plant at 698-1082 Northeast 23rd Street in Fort Worth.
Irving, Texas: The production team used Mercury Studios at 6301 Riverside Drive in Irving. They also filmed in other cities and towns in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, such as Decatur, Mineral Wells, Little Elm, McKinney, Rockwall, and Fate. Scenes were also filmed in Greenville and Frisco.
Other Locations in Texas: The filming team also went to other places in Texas. Key scenes were filmed in and around Houston, the county seat of Harris County. They also set up camp in Galveston and the towns of Pottsboro and South Padre Island.
Greater Vancouver, British Columbia
Greater Vancouver, also known as Metro Vancouver, was another main filming location. Many scenes were filmed in real establishments in Vancouver and nearby areas. For example, the Vancouver International Airport at 3211 Grant McConachie Way in Richmond, Eagle Harbour Yacht Club at 5750 Eagle Harbour Road in West Vancouver, and Pacific Central Station at 1150 Station Street in Vancouver are shown in the series.
Sets and Locations: The J.B.’s Sandwich Bar at 1719 Franklin Street (now closed) in Vancouver was used as a coffee restaurant in the Middle East. The houses at 1990 West 19th Avenue and 2314 Ontario Street were used for Sara’s and Lincoln’s houses. The cemetery scene with Sara was filmed at Mountain View Cemetery at 5455 Fraser Street in Vancouver. The Ogygia Prison scenes were filmed at Bridge Studios at 2400 Boundary Road in Burnaby. The city of New Westminster was also used for filming at New Westminster City Hall, Justice Institute of British Columbia, and Anvil Centre. In Coquitlam, the area near Mary Hill Bypass and the former Riverview Mental Hospital were also used.
Morocco
Season 5 of ‘Prison Break’ is mainly set in Yemen, where Michael is in a Yemeni prison. But the scenes were not filmed in Yemen. The filming team made Morocco look like Yemen. The Ibn Al-Haytham Technical School in Ouarzazate was used as the Yemeni prison. The capital of Morocco, Rabat, and the city of Casablanca are also shown in the series.
Los Angeles, California
For the fourth season, the cast and crew filmed key scenes at the Fox Studio Lot at 10201 West Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. They mainly used Stage 5 out of the 15 different sound stages. The studio has various interiors and exteriors and a backlot that includes a historic New York Street backdrop.
New York City, New York
Michael tries to get sent to Fox River State Penitentiary by robbing a bank in downtown Chicago. These scenes were filmed at Ridgewood Savings Bank at 107-55 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, Queens, New York.
Other Locations
Other scenes from ‘Prison Break’ were filmed throughout Florida, particularly in Miami and Pensacola. Pensacola was made to resemble Panama in the last episodes of Season 2. Some outside shots with Lincoln and Gretchen were filmed at Panama City’s famous Casco Viejo neighborhood. It is also said that several sequences were shot in Toronto, Ontario.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Prison Break
Q: Where was ‘Prison Break’ filmed?
A: ‘Prison Break’ was filmed in various locations around the world. Key filming sites include Joliet Prison and the city of Chicago in Illinois, multiple areas in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and other parts of Texas like Houston and South Padre Island, and Greater Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. Internationally, filming took place in Morocco in cities such as Ouarzazate, Rabat, and Casablanca, as well as in Panama City, Panama. Additional scenes were shot in Los Angeles, California; Queens, New York; Miami and Pensacola, Florida; and Toronto, Ontario.
Q: When was ‘Prison Break’ filmed?
A: The filming of ‘Prison Break’ began in April 2005 for the initial seasons. The fifth and final season started production in April 2016 and concluded in July 2016. This spread out timeline allowed for diverse locations and intricate storytelling throughout the series’ run.
Q: What are some key filming locations in Illinois?
A: In Illinois, ‘Prison Break’ prominently featured Joliet Prison, located at 1125 Collins Street in Joliet, which served as the fictional Fox River State Penitentiary. Various scenes were also filmed in Chicago, including at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Additional filming took place in Woodstock, adding to the authentic Midwest setting of the series.
Q: Were any international locations used in ‘Prison Break’?
A: Yes, ‘Prison Break’ utilized several international locations to enhance its narrative. In British Columbia, Canada, Greater Vancouver and nearby areas were key filming sites. In Morocco, the cities of Ouarzazate, Rabat, and Casablanca stood in for Yemen in Season 5. Panama City, particularly the historic district of Casco Viejo, was used to depict Panama, adding a global dimension to the show’s storyline.
Q: When was ‘Prison Break’ released?
A: ‘Prison Break’ had its initial release on August 29, 2005, marking the start of its journey. The series continued to captivate audiences, leading to the release of its fifth season on April 4, 2017.
