The Prisoner (2009)

(Please click here for my article on the classic original series)
In 1967, Patrick McGoohan had a prime opportunity. A hot item in the world of TV, he had made a name for himself in the series Danger Man (known as Secret Agent in the US). Offered the role of Ian Fleming’s James Bond, he turned it down in order to create a bold new experiment that would utilize the TV action drama trappings of Danger Man in making an existential statement on modern life. With unusual visuals, a breathtaking setting in the holiday villa of Port Meiron and the music of Ron Grainer, the Prisoner was as bizarre then as it is today. Spanning just 17 episodes, the series remains a cult phenomenon with its influence spreading far and wide to comic books, movies, literature, music and more.

The Prisoner 1967-68 opening

The basic premise of the Prisoner is that a former secret agent was abducted from his home after resigning from his top job as an agent for MI6. Finding himself in the beautiful yet thoroughly alien setting of the Village, he finds that he has been assigned the designation of ‘Number Six.’ A charming man by the designation of ‘Number Two’ introduces himself and states that 6’s life can be an easy one in the Village if he just plays along and tells them everything they want to know. 6 refuses and begins a determined defense of his persona and individuality as the combined forces of the Village set about breaking down his sense of self and sanity. As the series progressed, it made statements on everything from mental illness to politics and MacGoohan’s own sense of identity as a celebrity as he used his own head shot as the file photograph of Number 6.

This Sunday AMC will attempt to revive the story for the modern world with their own take on the classic program. Yes, it is ‘heresy’ to even consider such a thing, but the project has been bubbling about for decades so it was only a matter of time before someone managed to get it off the ground. Given that at one time the pitch was a remake set in America’s heartland starring Nic Cage, we should count ourselves lucky. However, I don’t want to sell the AMC series short at all. James Caviezel has been cast as No.6, the unwilling subject of the Village’s unrelenting attack on his psyche. 6 awakens in a desert setting (rather than the seaside of Wales) to find that he is the center of No.2’s attention, played by Ian McKellen. The sole motivation of No.2 is to crush No.6’s individuality and of course No.6 is non-conformity incarnate in his reluctance to play along.

Ian McKellen Rules in Remake of ‘The Prisoner’

The 2009 Prisoner series has been previewed on local cable in a series of short documentaries revealing the tone and basic premise of the remake. While i am puzzled by its seeming to follow the events of the 1967-68 series, it does seem to have a good handle of the basic ideas of what made the original work and even has its own message on ‘what it is to be free’ to throw into the mix. I do think that the desert setting is a stroke of genius as No.2’s statement that ‘there is no New York’ seems all that more chilling when No.6 is surrounded by a wasteland.

I was rather surprised to see that the new series is basing its 6 episodes on key episodes from the original, including the controversial ‘Living in Harmony’ which was banned from US transmission as it was perceived to be a statement on the Vietnam War.

1.1 “Arrival” based on Arrival
1.2 “Harmony” based on Living in Harmony
1.3 “Anvil” based on Hammer Into Anvil
1.4 “Darling” based on Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
1.5 “Schizoid” based on The Schizoid Man
1.6 “Checkmate” based on Checkmate

When news initially broke, the series creators were adamant in their adoration and respect for the source material which shines through in what I have seen this far:

Writer Bill Gallagher says: “I was haunted by The Prisoner when I saw it as a boy on its first broadcast. Here was something that was more than television, something I couldn’t quite grasp but couldn’t let go of. It’s a unique opportunity for a writer to be able to go back to The Village and tell some new stories about that strange place and its surreal menace. We have a terrific cast and a wonderful director, so we hope to serve up something as beguiling and disturbing as the original was.”

Producer Trevor Hopkins adds: “The Prisoner was an iconic piece of 60s TV and updating the series for a contemporary audience has thrown up many interesting challenges. I feel that Bill Gallagher’s splendid scripts, combined with Jim and Ian in the lead roles will bring the series to a whole new audience, whilst still pleasing the dedicated fans of the original.”

“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.”

While I do hope that the new take on the Prisoner has its own unique statement, I am happy to see that it is not forgotten how important and necessary it is to reflect what the original set out to do. Tune in the Sunday to watch this exciting new series.

For more information, please visit the official site of AMC’s the Prisoner and the Prisoner fanclub, SixofOne.