The Prisoner

[ttotheusher]

So, the rumours are true. Caviezel and McKellen are to star in a remake of The Prisoner.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=46425

Caviezel and McKellen to Star in The Prisoner

Source: AMC
June 30, 2008



AMC announced today that acclaimed film actors Jim Caviezel (The Passion of The Christ) and Ian McKellen ("The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "X-Men" films) 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Caviezel will play the title role of "Number Six," a part that was originally made famous when played by Patrick McGoohan.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.

"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 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, and directed by Jon Jones.

 

[Dark Donnie]

Wasn't Christopher Nolan making a movie about this?

 

[ttotheusher]

Yes, straight from Christopher Nolans website:

http://www.christophernolan.net/
August 11, 2006

Nolan to direct "The Prisoner"?

Variety just announced that Chris Nolan is near to closing a deal with Universal Pictures to direct a feature version of the 60s TV series "The Prisoner".

Series lasted only 17 episodes in 1967. Patrick McGoohan played a government agent who resigns, is kidnapped and placed on an isolated island known as the Village. He's given a new identity -- Number Six -- and interacts with an island staff trying to get him to reveal why he resigned. Plan is for Nolan to direct a contemporized transformation after he completes "The Dark Knight," the "Batman Begins" sequel that begins production early next year at Warner Bros.

Janet and David Peoples are set to write the script, David was writer for Unforgiven, Stephen Frears' Hero and co-author of Blade Runner, together they wrote the script for Twelve Monkeys. Scott Stuber, Mary Parent, Barry Mendel and Emma Thomas (Nolan's wife) will produce.

 

[ttotheusher]

I'll be honest, I'd rather Nolan take a stab at this than an AMC/ITV mini-series.

 

[Matt]

I dunno, AMC's done some quality original material. Look at Breaking Bad.

 

[ttotheusher]

I agree that Mad Men have made some quality shows, like Mad Men and the aforementioned Breaking Bad, but neither of those shows were remakes of classics.

 

[Shifty]

http://www.amctv.com/videos/the-prisoner/
Some behind the scenes videos.

http://blogs.amctv.com/the-prisoner/
Ian McKellan's blog and the Production Diary.

They've got about two weeks left of shooting.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

A viral had started for this but i dont think it went anywhere TBH

 

[Shifty]

AMC has the original series online now.
http://www.amctv.com/videos/the-prisoner-1960s-video/

 

[Shifty]

Info from the press tour, unfortunately we're going to have to wait 11 months to see it.

Friday, Jan 9, 2009
Press Tour: New details on AMC's 'The Prisoner'

Posted by Daniel Fienberg
Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen of 'The Prisoner'
Credit: AMC

On Thursday (Jan. 8) afternoon, after a long day dominated by PBS and an unfortunately healthy (therefore meager) WeTV lunch, the Television Critics Association received a treat courtesy of AMC: A first peek at the cable network's six-episode miniseries remake of "The Prisoner."

My first reaction: If the original "The Prisoner" was a major influence (probably an understatement) on "Lost," "Lost" is, in turn, a major influence (probably an understatement) on the remake of "The Prisoner." Even based on five minutes of clips, I'm prepared to venture a guess that this "Prisoner" will be much less surreal than the original, but that there will be a far greater emphasis on conspiracy, mythology and actual tangible mystery (as opposed to the original's mystery-of-the-unknown).

The new Village, filmed in an actual community in the desert of Namibia, is distinctive and visually striking, an assortment of A-frames and anachronistic structures in the middle of mountains and sand. It's absolutely alien enough to satisfy fans.

Jim Caviezel's #6 is American, which saves us the distraction of Jesus' British accent, though Lennie James' #147 also seems to be American, meaning that The Village is a global receptacle of sorts.

And even though the existence of a single, irreducible #2 may offend fan sensibilities, the fact that that #2 is played by Sir Ian McKellen will surely salve any wounds. He's everything one would want in the role and his "Be seeing you" was chilling.

After the clips, the main cast, producer Trevor Hopkins and director Nick Hurran answered questions.

After the bump, I've compiled their answers to a few of the questions that are most burning for fans...

On generally remaking a classic: "We’re all total huge fans of the original, but we realized very early on that what we couldn’t do is copy it and that what Bill Gallagher wanted to do was to reinterpret it and create something that was – it could be a thriller, it had many different possibilities. We wanted to be as unfathomable and enigmatic as the original." (Trevor Hopkins)

On adapting the main themes of the original: "Over the last few months, the question of freedom to make mistakes, should we be allowed to have that freedom where it enables us to make our own choice, even if that’s a bad choice and we make mistakes, or should we allow a society to control us, where everything will be protected for us and we’ll be very happy if we don’t have that freedom? Goodness me, when you look around and see perhaps that the state of play around us in the world, who knows whether it’s right or wrong. Those questions are left unanswered, but I think it becomes more poignant as we go on." (Nick Hurran)

On finding the proper location for the new Village: "We went to Australia, to Eastern Europe and eventually ended up in Africa in Namibia, and we had heard about this small town called Swampkumond, which is a turn-of-the-century German town surrounded by this incredible landscape. We needed to be close to a metropolis that would double as a city, which was, in the end, Cape Town, so it was a good destination, a very happy piece of shooting, and complicated, but wonderful." (Hopkins)

On using only a single #2: "[O]ne of the characteristics of the original was that in 17 episodes, the questions that you were invited to ask as to why and who is in charge and what are their motives, was never really answered. Hence, the enduring fascination, I think. The viewers are still guessing as to what was the meaning of it all. Well, this is different. By episode six, you know everything about The Village: Where it came from, where it’s going to, who created it, why they did it and what it’s like to actually live there. I think Bill Gallagher needed a 2 who was central to this story of the meaning of The Village, because he seems to be running it and to have it played by a number of characters would just be cute, but not to the point, and I’m very grateful because it gives me an absolutely wonderful part." (McKellan)

On whether or not the balloon-like Rover will appear: "Our Rover? Who knows. I mean, everybody, the first thing they do is go, 'Is the — is the white ball or rover there?' I think, in the original, there’s some marvelous stories... they had spent an awful lot of money making some fabulous contraption that would hover like a hovercraft and then sink down below the water like a submarine and then climb the walls of a building when required. And on the first day of filming, I think they say it came out, went into the water, sank, and never came up again. We might have had a similar sort of thing happening, but I couldn’t possibly say at the moment. But a rover may make an appearance. He’s a big part of what is 'The Prisoner,' I think." (Hurran)

On whether or not original mastermind Patrick McGoohan will make an appearance: "McGoohan, we asked to play a cameo in the piece, because it’s the perfect thing for him. Although he loved it, loved the casting that we got in it, he wasn’t able to travel and take part in it." (Hopkins)

On the implications of the global nature of The Village: "There was something about the original, where The Village was clearly British, you might even say English, if you understand that distinction. Even though the location was in Whales, it didn’t feel like that. It felt like a little English Disney place. Frankly, I’m more attracted to Bill Gallagher’s notion of 'The Prisoner' and The Village and it’s on a world scale. The implications are for us all. To have an American character at the center of it seems appropriate in a way it would not have been to that curious English feeling that saturated the original series." (McKellen)

On whether or not the update will reference or play off of the original: "There are a number, of course, of homages that the keen eye will see in what’s said, in what’s worn, in pieces of architecture. Of course, there are a number of salutes that we make to the fantastic beast that was created. I think it would be ashamed to take it to the next generation and not acknowledge what an extraordinary piece of work that was. I think it’s like less surreal, but it is as bizarre, in a good way." (Hurran)

On whether there could be another "Prisoner" miniseries if this one is successful: "There is a conclusion at the end of the sixth episode, but whether or not there would ever be more from AMC, I don’t really know. But there are choices in that conclusion." (Hopkins)

AMC will premiere "The Prisoner" in November of 2009.

Breaking Bad season two will premiere in March and end in May, Mad Men season three will premiere in July and end in October. The Prisoner can be their big November sweeps show.

 

[Golgo-13]

What is 'The Prisoner's' synopsis?

 

[ttotheusher]

What is 'The Prisoner's' synopsis?

From Wikipedia:

It follows a former British agent who, after abruptly resigning from his position, is held captive in a small village by the sea by an unidentified power that wishes to establish the reason for his resignation. Episodes typically feature the unnamed prisoner, labelled "Number Six" by his captors, unsuccessfully attempting to escape from or change the authority of "the Village." However, Number Six has numerous victories of his own, successfully thwarting the various individuals serving as the Village's chief administrator, "Number Two," in their attempts to break him or control the Village, causing a disconcertingly rapid turnover of personnel in the position. Eventually, as the series reaches its surreal climax, Number Six's indomitable resistance and mounting blows against the administration threaten the viability of the Village itself, which forces its desperate warders to take drastic action.

 

[ttotheusher]

Apparantly, AMC are streaming all the original episodes in advance of the remake.

http://www.amctv.com/originals/the-prisoner-1960s-series/

 

[Golgo-13]

From Wikipedia:

 

[ttotheusher]

Yea, they can explain it better than I can.

But seriously, its such an amazing show. Even now, 40 years later, its still saying something about todays climate.

 

[Shifty]

TEASER TRAILER

http://blogs.amctv.com/the-prisoner/2009/05/video-the-prisoner-trailer-1.php

 

[ttotheusher]

TEASER TRAILER

http://blogs.amctv.com/the-prisoner/2009/05/video-the-prisoner-trailer-1.php

Obviously, the teaser is just supposed to tease, so we barely saw anything there. However, McKellen's looking solid, which I expected.

 

[Shifty]

The Prisoner will be free to appear at Comic-Con

Posted Jul 7th 2009 10:03AM by John Scott Lewinski

He is not a number. He is a free man -- and he's coming to Comic-Con.

The stars of AMC's mini-series remake of The Prisoner are headed to San Diego's mega-convention. The new Number Six, Jim Caviezel, will join Jamie Campbell-Bower (The Twilight Saga: New Moon) and Lennie James (Jericho) for a panel and preview of the six-part series.

The Prisoner tells the story of a retired spy who finds himself abducted and spirited away to a mysterious Village where nameless authority figures struggle to break his mind and spirit while he battles to escape. The show is known for its moral and existential themes as much as its sharp writing and distinctive art design.

The reboot is a gutsy move by AMC as The Prisoner, created by and starring Patrick McGoohan (pictured) in the late 1960s, is widely considered one of the greatest series in television history. It's tough to remake a masterpiece, and it's even more difficult to convince fans of a masterpiece that your new version is a valid addition to the franchise.

But, Caviezel and company will face those fans Friday, July 24 at 11:30 AM, alongside series writer Bill Gallagher and producer/ director Robert Meyer Burnett.

Fortunately, AMC is smart enough not to come to Comic-Con empty-handed. Attendees will obtain their own Village identity by visiting The Prisoner booth to pick-up an official ID badge. And, AMC will distribute a mini comic book created by Marvel Comics, based on the mini-series first hour.

Sounds good.

 

[Sawyer]

I've always been very curious about the original series, but I've never actually gotten around to seeing it. I'll definitely check this out.

 

[zerohour films]

I've always been very curious about the original series, but I've never actually gotten around to seeing it. I'll definitely check this out.

Same here. I just started watching them on AMC's website and am up to the 4th episode. They have been very interesting. I can't wait to see how it ends.

I definitely recommend checking them out.

 

[ttotheusher]

Same here. I just started watching them on AMC's website and am up to the 4th episode. They have been very interesting. I can't wait to see how it ends.

I definitely recommend checking them out.

The last episode will blow your mind.

 

[patrickbateman]

The last episode will blow your mind.

i still dont get man .. pm me with WTF happen

 

[Hunter Rider]

Comic Con: 9 Minutes of AMC’s The Prisoner Released

 

[tecnowraith]

Yes... I am happy they brought

Spoiler

Rover, the floating jumping balloon

back for the remake. That is the most oddest yet popular among fans, character for a tv.

 

[ttotheusher]

GAH! "This video cannot be viewed from your current location". For pete's sake!