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The Prisoner To Be Remade On U.K. TV

Posted by Zonk on from the now-we-need-more-red-dwarf dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Various UK news sites are reporting that Sky One is to commission a remake of the cult 60s UK TV series, The Prisoner. See u.tv and This is London." From the This Is London story: "The series, which made its debut 1967, is today credited by its fans as being ahead of its time. Featuring McGoohan as a former secret agent trapped in an isolated seaside village, it was shown in more than 60 countries. The new version will not be placed in the original setting, the north Wales village of Portmeirion, or have the arty, 'pop' feel of the original, according to the magazine Broadcast. Damien Timmer, who has been lined up to executive produce the show, told the television and radio industry magazine that the new series 'takes liberties with the original'."

7 of 244 comments (clear)

  1. Sixth post by AEton · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am number six... ....wait, who is number one?

    --
    We recently had heard in the office over one of the Yellow Machine that's made by Anthology Solutions.
  2. Re:Why do we need a remake? by negative3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    And what exactly do they mean by "take liberties with the original." That is probably code for "when we got done with this bitch it will be damn near unrecognizable."

    --
    "Physics is to math what sex is to masturbation." - Richard Feynman
  3. Possible location by isny · · Score: 5, Funny

    Guantanemo Bay.

  4. "takes liberties with the original" by Dystopian+Rebel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Poll: For the new Prisoner series, which of the following liberties is most likely to be taken?

    a) 80% of the production budget will be for explosions
    b) 80% of the production will be for cleavage
    c) the Lotus Seven that McGoohan drove will be replaced by a Toyota Echo
    d) the Rover balloon will have advertizing pasted all over it
    e) Adam Sandler in the main role

    --
    Rich And Stupid is not so bad as Working For Rich And Stupid.
  5. Re:Why do we need a remake? by Doktor+Memory · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The important difference is that the original Battlestar Galactica was very, very, very, very bad. Not good. Terrible, in fact. Unwatchable. Occasionally downright embarrassing. Anyone who has fond memories of the original Galactica probably last watched it as a hyperactive 7-year-old. Changing the original series could only improve it.

    The Prisoner, to put it mildly, does not suffer from this problem.

    --

    News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters? Like hell.

  6. Re:Why do we need a remake? by sg3000 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    > Seriously. The Prisoner is a classic.

    Agreed! The Prisoner (minus the last two incomprehensible and silly episodes) was an incredible show. I remember it came on one night late on PBS (after Red Dwarf), and I recognized it from the description on The Straight Dope.

    We were all set to make fun of it (hey, look! a campy 1960s era show!), but we quickly became engrossed in the plot (it was one of the better episodes -- The Schizoid Man). I was actually quite surprised how much I enjoyed it.

    I ended up buying the A&E boxed set, and I was amazed at McGoohan's understanding of how society tries to mold its citizens. Plus the whole "spy versus spy" part was an intriguing bonus (particularly "Hammer and Anvil").

    This is a show that doesn't need to be remade. Today, they'd have to cut it in half, make Number 6 run around shooting people with a machine gun, and have a hooter babe leading woman.

    --
    Insert simplistic political, ideological, or personal proselytization here.
  7. How to make a mockery of the Prisoner by crucini · · Score: 5, Insightful
    In case the producers of the new show are reading, here are my suggestions:
    1. Add a sultry female co-star, #7. Initially, she and #6 suspect each other of being spies for #2. Develop inevitable romantic plot. She tends to bail out #6 when he screws up his plans. Optionally, wrap in black leather.
    2. Use monumental, fascist-inspired sets with towering spires, grim tunnels and riveted doors. Light dramatically. Every footstep must echo loudly and every slamming door must sound like a dumpster being dropped by the garbage truck.
    3. Make each #2 a caricature of utter, unsympathetic evil, ala Voldemort in Harry Potter. Optionally, monsterize #2's face with latex appliances.
    4. Replace Rover with a hi-tech CGI robot that floats around firing laser beams.
    5. Highlight #6's human side via friendships with other inmates. Feature sticky scenes of sentiment in which #6 exchanges a manly hug with his buddy before one of them heads off to near-certain death.
    6. Use the show as a megaphone for the political issue du jour. Frex, have #2 refuse to sign the Kyoto treaty, whereupon the island becomes choked with pollution until #6 persuads him to sign. Of course, there must be a "vote fraud" episode.
    7. Add montages with hip-hop and rock.
    8. Replace the ironic distance of McGoohan with someone more meaty, sweaty, earthy and hunky. Let him bellow from the diaphragm, "Like, it's so lame being a number! I'm an individual!".