The Prisoner Remake - New Mini Series

JP Liz

Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellan are on board to star in The Prisoner, an update on the 1960s cult hit that will air as a six-part miniseries on AMC next year.

Caviezel will play the title role of "Number Six" and McKellan will costar as "Number Two."

The 1960s series — an espionage thriller set during the Cold War — is being updated with a focus on security and surveillance while retaining the franchise's trademark socio-economic commentary.

Should be good

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

it should be, but it won't.

mike65

FAIL!

Mike.

ejmaztec

+1 to the power of Epic recurring.

ziedth

Wouldn't it be quality if they brought back patrick mcgooan as number 2 or a random crazy person floating around the village, JC is now a bad choice in my eyes.

Its never going to be as good though

ejmaztec

Patrick McGoohan is 80 now and I don't know how mobile he is. Probably make Space Cowboys look like a teen movie.:pac:

chalkitdown1

I can see this being very good, especially as it's AMC that are behind it. Mad Men & Breaking Bad are two of the best shows I've seen in years.

ixoy

I've been watching "The Prisoner" recently (almost finished) and I'm hard pressed to see how they'll do justice to the surreal world the show created - I'm assuming the original writers took a bunch of drugs before writing some of the original episodes...
I'm also a little bit curious about the casting of McKellen as No. 2 as fans of the show would recall how No. 2 changes each week as the various 2s try to crack No. 6. Still I imagine the success of "Lost", etc. will help the show in a sense and AMC have an excellent record with their first two shows so they'll hopefully do it some justice.

qwertplaywert

I always knew Number 6 was Jesus.....

mike65

McKellen will be grand, Leo McKern did 3 episodes btw. No its the American lead and the weird locations that are the greatest concerns - South Africa and Nanibia (I think).

The thing about McGoohans John Drake/No6 was that he was a flinty, supercilious bastard. Americans just don't do that sort of thing as its bad for thier image. Instead the lead will be misunderstood and somehow heroicly noble.

Mike.

chalkitdown1

mike65 wrote: »

Americans just don't do that sort of thing as its bad for thier image

How much American TV do you watch, exactly?

This isn't going to be on a Network channel, you know.

mike65

As much as I need is the answer. I know AMC (Madmen was exellent) is not ABC but I remain to be convinced.

Mike

ziedth

ejmaztec wrote: »

Patrick McGoohan is 80 now and I don't know how mobile he is. Probably make Space Cowboys look like a teen movie.:pac:

Regardless, Its been a while since i have seen the orginal series but wasn't there like an old buy he always he used to talk 2,

Suppose it is a bit of a wet dream to have him as number 2 but i can dream

ejmaztec

ziedth wrote: »

Regardless, Its been a while since i have seen the orginal series but wasn't there like an old buy he always he used to talk 2,

Suppose it is a bit of a wet dream to have him as number 2 but i can dream

Whilst it might add a little interest, were he to have a cameo role, I can't think of a reason why anyone would have a wet dream about it.:eek:

He'll get some money into his pension fund, being as he's probably got most of the rights on the original version.

~Marky~

Christopher Nolan is making a film of the "The Prisoner"

Sherifu

The old show was pretty cool for its time. Updated technology, hmmmm.

JP Liz

Starts Nov 15th

Biggins

ixoy wrote: »

I'm assuming the original writers took a bunch of drugs before writing some of the original episodes...

LOL
Patrick McGoohan himself wrote the show apparently.

In fairness a lot of people said the same about the remake of Battlestar Galactica "O' its going to be rubbish, etc"...
While a lot of shows do turn out to be just that, before it even airs I'm unwilling to stick the boot in till we all get a chance to even see an episode or four!

Richard Dower

First twp eps. dropped....not watch it yet but will do. Being shown over three night....won't have to wait too long to see all six.

Shall we use spoliers to discuss it?

Mr E

Interested to hear what people think. Initial reviews are pretty poor, but you can't ignore the big names in the cast (ability goes a long way to lifting a poor script).

Johnny Storm

ixoy wrote: »

...- I'm assuming the original writers took a bunch of drugs before writing some of the original episodes...
....

Not much doubt about it

Biggins

Just watched the first episode and I have to say, it was actually good.
Second part on tonight (American TV).
McKellen steals the show from Caviezel by far.

Richard Dower

OK, i just watch the eps. - note i'm approaching this from knowing nothing of the original.....i thought it was confusing and weird, very bizarre...McKellan is ace, but i wonder why he's even in it?

The Village, weird small cars, those white balls.....?
It just seemed unfocused and confusing, maybe thats the point....but it dosen't make for entertaining or interesting tv.

Sherifu

I hope they do a decent job. I enjoyed watching the original series.

hick

four eps out already just about halfway through the pilot (ep1-2) good so far, I like mckellen a lot!

Original is a cult classic, so best not stay too close otherwise it's bound to be a poor copy, so far so good though

calex71

McKellen is the only good thing about this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will watch to see how it ends but as a remake it's generous to even say that this poor. The big thing I loved about the original was taken away

that they had a new #2 every week after 6 defeated the previous one

and i also loved the big tease at the start of the original

who is #1 , you are #6

theres no mention of that so far ep 1+2 ffs it would have been the 1st thing I'd have asked remake or not :mad:

The Don

Watched the first 2 eps. I thought that it was pretty good. I only have a small recollection of the original but maybe I can follow what's going on a bit better than someone who's starting fresh. McKellen is the best thing about it so far. Caviezel's pretty good but #6's character doesn't really use his head. If he want's to escape through a desert he's going to need water at the very least. Instead he took off into the desert 4/5 times without anything to help him.

I don't remember if they brainwashed them in the original or everyone just accepted that escape was impossible. But its pretty obvious that they are using the TV's and that show to do it now and give them the 'old' memories of their past that they want them to have.

Anyone else think that they are shaping McKellen's son up to help #6? I liked the use of the white spheres in the 2 episodes

Richard Dower

I saw all six,

#6 becomes #2 and #313 becomes #1...who was #2's wife?

Honesty, i haven't a bloody CLUE what the hell is/was going on, they kinda give you a little direction then go off up a cul-de-sac, bizarre/weird series.....all i care about is the actress who played Lucy/#415......GIGANTIC BOOBS!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe i'm just stupid?

Richard Dower

http://www.imagebam.com/image/06554213227661

Basq

For fecks sake Richard... if the thread title doesn't indicate "spoilers", then use spoiler tags.

Shag all point in me watching it now.

Richard Dower

I didn't give anything away, 'cause i'm not sure what i saw or who is who!

Basq

Richard Dower wrote: »

I didn't give anything away, 'cause i'm not sure what i saw or who is who!

What now appears in spoiler tags appears to be crucial plot points and revelations to me.

Sherifu

Richard Dower wrote: »

I saw all six,

they kinda give you a little direction then go off up a cul-de-sac, bizarre/weird series....

Having seen 4 episodes i'm beginning to feel that way too. Too much 'Life on Mars' about it but 'Life on Mars' was actually good at handling the mystery. This is just a mess.

Any idea when we will see it on UK/Ireland telly?

JP Liz V1

zorro2566 wrote: »

Any idea when we will see it on UK/Ireland telly?

Starts on ITV Saturday 17/04/10

Elmo

Saw the ad on ITV ???? Anyway knew it was the prisoner before it ended. Looks like a good up date will take a look.

Johnny Storm

So far, I've seen the first two eps of the remake.
As a big fan of the original I've found it average so far. The only real reason for me to watch the remake is to see whats different.

Nice touch:

when he meets the old guy at the start of ep 1 dressed as the original prisoner and later visits his apt which is done in the 60's village style with circular doorways and a lavalamp etc

Richard Dower

I found the mini series to be confused and weird!

JP Liz V1

SyFy UK will be showing this starting 16/11