ITV to reinvent The Prisoner

Remake forthcoming in 2009

With a history of on-again, off-again rumours, that has spanned many years, I’m a complete sceptic whenever anyone utters the words “Prisoner” and “remake” in the same sentence. This time, however, it looks as if I might be on somewhat firmer ground than usual by repeating the story on this occasion.

On June 30, 2008 (a date I mention so it can be referred to in future), ITV’s Press Centre issued a release entitled “Ian McKellen and Jim Caviezel to star in ITV reinvention of classic thriller The Prisoner“, which is certainly more concrete than anything I’ve been pointed at, or told of, previously. ITV Productions is reported to be co-producing the six-part series with Granada International and AMC, with a worldwide premiere slated for 2009, so not long to wait either.

The original Prisoner series, created, produced, written and directed by Patrick McGoohan who also played the main character, is widely regarded as one of the most well regarded and intriguing cult TV series ever created, which is not the worst of legacies, given that it never ran to its full conclusion, and was left with a most enigmatic ending. Perhaps that particular misfortune became the series’ high point, it certainly provoked an unending discussion.

The original 1967 was produced against a background of Cold War intrigue, the remake will be built around 21st century concerns and anxieties; liberty, security, surveillance (not a lot of differences there then), and feature similar key elements of paranoia, tense action and socio-political commentary that figured in the original. The plot is summarised as follows:

The six one-hour episodes tell the story of a man who finds himself trapped in a mysterious and surreal place known as The Village, with no memory of how he arrived.  As he frantically explores his environment, he discovers that its inhabitants are identified by number instead of by name and have no memory of a prior existence or outside civilization.  Not knowing who to trust, Number Six is driven by the desperate need to discover the truth behind The Village, the reason for his being there, and most importantly, how he can survive and escape to his previous life.

The Village is controlled by one man – the sinister and charismatic Number Two.  In each new episode Six and Two are locked in a battle of wits, as Six challenges the oppressive nature of The Village and battles against his captors.  Six must find out what The Village is, but in doing so, he must also confront some dark truths about himself.

The location and setting for the action is still to be announced, however they will be hard pushed to match McGoohan’s original Portmeirion, especially since it is now so well known. Offhand, I can’t think of anywhere that would match that choice today, and would be tempted to go with two differing options if had to choose. The first would be to hide the place in plain sight, in other words, somewhere perfectly ordinary and apparently in public, but with Number Six surrounded by watchers, controlling what he might think are free choices. The other would be to emulate the original in some way, but in a totally artificial environment, located somewhere like an abandoned Cold War air base or similar establishment with accommodation etc. But, I haven’t really thought this through, and one would need an idea of the script content to really make a valid guess.

I have to confess to not being a fan of remakes, and offhand, can’t think of one modern film remake that I would even give shelf space to, let alone spend time watching. They’re simply too modern and too polished, and look more like showcases for the big stars, rather than retellings of the original tale, and are usually also guilty of forgetting the original storyline as well, replacing it with some watered-down, or dumbed-down facsimile. This one is sending some alarm bells already, as it is already coming with self-praising comments such as, “The caliber of Hollywood talent AMC is attracting further validates our programming vision and our successful strategy of producing quality cinematic originals that stand alongside our library of iconic movies.”

I have less than a year to convince myself to see it an all-new production, and not as a remake, so I can judge it reasonably fairly, and maybe even enjoy it too. Tampering with an icon can be dangerous stuff.

[06.30.08 - 08:03 AM] JIM CAVIEZEL AND IAN MCKELLEN TO STAR IN AMC’S REINTERPRETATION OF CULT CLASSIC, THE PRISONER Released by AMC

[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

JIM CAVIEZEL AND IAN MCKELLEN TO STAR IN AMC’S REINTERPRETATION OF CULT CLASSIC, THE PRISONER Six-Part Mini-Series Set to Premiere in 2009 New Series Furthers AMC’s Cinematic Approach to Creating High-Quality Original Programming New York, NY June 30, 2008 AMC, the network defining The Future of Classic, announced today that acclaimed film actors Jim Caviezel (Passion of the Christ, The Thin Red Line) and Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings, The Da Vinci Code) have signed on to star in the network’s reinterpretation of the highly influential 1960’s cult classic, The Prisoner. AMC is co-producing the six-part mini-series with ITV Productions and Granada International, with a worldwide premiere slated for 2009. The Prisoner, AMC’s second original mini-series, combines a wide range of genres, including espionage, thriller and Sci-Fi, into a unique and compelling drama, and expands upon the network’s distinctive cinematic approach to creating high-quality programming. Caviezel will play the title role of “Number Six,” a part that was originally made famous when played by Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan also served as the creator, producer, writer and director of the 1960’s series, which has become widely regarded as one of the most famous and intriguing cult TV series ever created, permanently altering the scope of the fantasy genre. Two-time Oscar nominee Ian McKellen will co-star playing the role of “Number Two.” “Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen bring an incredible level of talent to the project, and we’re honored they are taking on these important roles. We look forward to this production revitalizing a classic and bringing Patrick McGoohan’s brilliant and captivating story to an entirely new generation of viewers,” stated Charlie Collier, AMC’s general manager and executive vice president. “The caliber of Hollywood talent AMC is attracting further validates our programming vision and our successful strategy of producing quality cinematic originals that stand alongside our library of iconic movies.” “For those of us who were watching grown-up TV in the 60s, The Prisoner was dangerous, exciting and challenging TV. For those of us who were too young to stay up to watch the series, it casts a long shadow. You don’t embark on something this iconic without the best team around to do it justice for a whole new era. With Bill Gallagher as writer, Trevor Hopkins as Producer, Michele Buck, Damien Timmer and Rebecca Keane as the UK Execs, AMC as production partners, ITV as UK Commissioners, and Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen leading the cast, we have that team on board. I can’t wait,” said John Whiston, Director of ITV Productions. “Bill Gallagher’s new version of The Prisoner is an enthralling commentary on modern culture. It is witty, intelligent and disturbing. I am very excited to be involved,” said Ian McKellen. While the original series, which debuted in 1967, was a riff on Cold War politics, AMC’s reinterpretation will reflect 21st Century concerns and anxieties, such as liberty, security, and surveillance, yet also showcase the same key elements of paranoia, tense action and socio-political commentary seen in McGoohan’s enigmatic original. “The Prisoner spawned an enormous group of zealous fans who thrived on each week’s psychological twists and turns. AMC’s version brings The Prisoner back to primetime, and we’re tempted to discuss more details, but in the spirit of the series, what you DO know, may hurt you,” said Christina Wayne, SVP of scripted original programming. Jim Caviezel first received critical recognition for his role as idealist Private Witt in The Thin Red Line. The following year, he gained further recognition with roles in Ride with the Devil and Frequency. His roles as Jennifer Lopez’s love interest in Angel Eyes followed by his work in The Count of Monte Cristo helped to establish him as a versatile actor and leading man. Caviezel was then chosen by Mel Gibson to star as Jesus Christ in the film The Passion of the Christ. The film went on to become one of the highest grossing movies of all-time and made Jim a household-name. Most recently Caviezel played against type when he co-starred opposite Denzel Washington in the thriller Dj vu. Ian McKellen is one of the world’s foremost stage and screen actors and has been honoured with more than 40 International awards. Most recently, he received critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of “Gandalf” in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. McKellen’s work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to fantasy and sci-fi, with other major film credits including Gods and Monsters, X-Men, Richard III and The Da Vinci Code. The Prisoner mini-series is a co-production of AMC and ITV Productions; the deal was brokered by Granada International, which holds international distribution rights. Bill Gallagher (Conviction, Clocking Off, Lark Rise To Candleford) serves as writer and executive producer, along with Michele Buck, Damien Timmer, Rebecca Keane, and AMC’s Charlie Collier, Christina Wayne and Vlad Wolynetz. It is produced by Trevor Hopkins (Dracula, Poirot), and directed by Jon Jones (Northanger Abbey, Cold Feet). Jim Caviezel’s deal was coordinated by ICM. Creative Artists Agency orchestrated the deal on behalf of Ian McKellen. About AMC AMC is a multi-platform network that celebrates classic movies and high-quality scripted series. Among the elite services available in nearly 93 million homes (Source: Nielsen Media Research), AMC defines what it means to be a classic movie network today, creating a distinctive viewing experience that celebrates all that is enduringly cool, personal and powerfully relevant about movies. AMC’s comprehensive library of popular movies strike a meaningful chord with its audience, and its critically-acclaimed slate of originals all have a cinematic quality that allow them to complement and be complemented by some of the best movies of all time. AMC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, which includes sister networks IFC, WE tv and Sundance Channel. AMC is THE FUTURE OF CLASSIC. Rainbow Media Holdings LLC Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel, Lifeskool, sportskool, and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media’s NYC studios and post-production facilities.