Morgan Freeman has form when it comes to daring prison breakouts.

At least if you take his iconic role in Shawshank Redemption, whereby his character Ellis 'Red' Redding (a contraband smuggler who narrated the 1994 hit film) unknowingly helps the protagonist escape, he does.

But the Academy Award winner, 84, is now set to take things up a notch with Great Escapes, a brand-new eight-part series that takes viewers on a step-by-step account of famous real-life jailbreaks.

In a first for Sky History, Freeman will deliver an in-depth look into eight cases of renowned breakouts from some of history's toughest prisons, be it a death-defying escape from Alcatraz, fleeing the fortress of Dannemora or the 'Pittsburgh Six', who tunnelled their way to freedom.

"They're fascinating stories," the Tennessean says of his decision to work on the project.

"The idea that someone, anyone, could pull off a prison escape, particularly out of a maximum-security institution, like Dannemora, like Alcatraz, which are built to hold you... Well, you're not supposed to be able to figure out how to get out!" muses the Hollywood actor.

"And these stories are about people who not only figured it out but pulled it off! It's fascinating drama. They're fascinating mysteries. The mystery being, can they pull it off?"

Also featured in the series is Narco criminal El Chapo; the World War II jailbreak from the Stalag Luft III Prisoner of War camp, on which the iconic The Great Escape movie is based; the UK's biggest ever prison break in which IRA members broke out of Belfast Prison known as 'The Maze'; and the story of escape artist James Earl Ray, who was convicted of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jnr.

In each episode, Freeman explores the determination of the convicts who masterminded the unimaginable. With unparalleled access to central figures including relatives, police and fellow prisoners, the series follows the infamous escapees on their journey from plan to execution.

"All of these stories are about people who actually pulled it off and the kind of ingenuity that it took to do that," notes the Hollywood actor, who also serves as executive producer on the show.

"The hard work - getting out of Dannemora - was, well, it was ingenuity. But it was work. It was day and night."

Was that the tale that stuck with him the most?

"Yes, that was just physical labour, picking their way out of a seven-foot-thick concrete wall, and using things like kitchen utensils, practically!" Freeman recalls, captivated by the neighbouring cell mates plea in New York.

As for Alcatraz, "they couldn't tunnel, that was solid rock. They had to figure out a whole other way of accomplishing getting from the prison into the water, across the bay, to safety. And all we know is they got out of the prison and into the water..." he explains, detailing the story of inmates Allen West, Frank Morris, John Anglin and his younger brother Clarence Anglin, whose mysterious getaway inspired the iconic 'Escape from Alcatraz' movie starring Clint Eastwood.

Others, he wasn't aware of, such as the Belfast breakout, whereby 40 prisoners attempted the unimaginable and escaped the multi-layered security prison in a food truck.

"I mean, that was brand new information to me!" quips the Million Dollar Baby star, his distinctive voice familiar. "But I mean, we did so many of these that I did not know about, and I'm learning about the same way that we're teaching the audience. It's just the simple fascination of, who's willing to help someone get out of prison?

"It's something about human nature. You lock us up, we're going to try to figure out how to beat this."

He continues: "Somebody like me, I'm just gonna sit down and do my time, as easily as I could. But these people say, 'Nah, I can't stay here, I got to get out, I gotta figure this out', and they figure it out, they get whatever tremendous help they need, and they pull it off.

"However, it doesn't matter if they don't get away - the moment they get out they've pulled off a major, major feat!"

Is it fair to say viewers will almost be willing them on in their trials?

"I think we pull for all of them - 'Can they do it? Can they do it? Oh they're almost caught'"... Freeman mimics.

"It's like anything else, it doesn't matter that they're cons, what matters is the daring act itself of trying to dig out, walk out, get out of a maximum-security prison. You're captivated by it. That's the thing about watching these stories, by getting involved with them at all, that you pull for them.

"If you feel guilty about feeling that - we all must, but some of us don't. I don't care. If you can pull that off, you deserve the victory!"

Straight-talking Freeman - renowned for his authoritarian roles - is currently working on his next project, upcoming thriller The Minute You Wake Up Dead, whilst other features such as Paradise Highway (penned and helmed by the Norwegian filmmaker Anna Gutto); and American drama film, A Good Person (written, directed, and produced by Zach Braff) are in post-production.

A keen historian too, however, having earned acclaim with documentaries covering everything from space to nature to biographical figures and historical accounts, demand for the veteran star shows no signs of slowing.

"Well, if you're a storyteller, one of the most fascinating things in your repertoire would be history, because that's where the stories are. They're not in the future. They're behind you, you know," he says of his vast interests.

"I've always been fascinated by (it). In school, I loved reading the ancient history."

As for Great Escapes, there's no underlying lesson there, he concludes. "I don't care what the audience take from it, as long as it's entertaining. It's strictly entertainment."

Morgan Freeman's Great Escapes, Sky History, Wednesday, 10pm.