I've heard rumors of a "new Prisoner", and was wondering how they could pull off a movie. Now I see it's a three parter, which makes a little more sense.
But already I don't like that #6 has a name (Michael), and that #2 is a constant (in the original, the great Leo McKern played #2 twice (but not in a row), otherwise that position in The Village had been replaced in every episode). But as I don't get AMC, I'll just have to wait until it filters down to me.... On Nov 12, 3:31 am, Bri D <[email protected]> wrote: > Stories of a Prisoner remake, either as a TV show or film have been > floating round for ages - it was with a mixture of excitement and > trepidation that I greeted the news around twenty months or so that > this was actually happening. The original is easily my favourite show > of all time - it was originally broadcast over here in 67/68 and then > repeated around a year later which is when it first caught my eye (as > a seven year old!). It was only when I saw the regional repeats in 77 > that I really started what became a bit of an obsession. I only live > around two and a half hours drive from the "real" village of > Portmeirion - I've been there a few times and it has barely changed, > the place is amazing. Last time I was there (around three years ago), > I was chatting to an American guy who was visiting. The night before, > he was in a hotel in London and said to his wife "I wonder how far > away the village is?" - they got a map, hired a car and drove up next > morning - he was so excited to be there...I think we in England get > the new show early next year and I will watch with an open mind - it's > certainly a good cast, although as the new village is in Namibia and > the old one in Wales, it certainly looks different! > > On Nov 11, 9:00 pm, Eidem <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > By FRAZIER MOORE, AP Television Writer > > > NEW YORK – A man named Michael from New York wakes up in the desert, > > much to his surprise. > > > Fortunately, a pleasant-looking village is nearby. > > > Unfortunately, Michael wants to get back to New York and finds he > > can't. > > > "That's not possible," the Village elder tells him. "There is no New > > York. There's only the Village." > > > "I want out!" Michael says. > > > "There is no out," insists the leader. "There is only in." > > > So goes "The Prisoner," a brilliant six-hour, three-night reimagining > > of the 1960s classic. It airs Sunday through Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST on > > AMC. > > > "The Prisoner" is a sometimes startling, always eye-popping meditation > > on freedom through the prism of mass thought control. Jim Caviezel > > stars as Michael, the addled detainee who finds that, on his arrival > > in the Village, he, like all the residents, is designated by a number, > > not a name. He is now Six. > > > Ian McKellen is the charismatic, delicately despotic boss, Two. With a > > suave, creepy-reassuring manner, he lords over this realm with its > > daunting sinkholes, huge white beach ball and compliant, seemingly > > contented populace. > > > Here wanderlust is out of the question, the solution to every problem > > is "More Village" and every home has a pig to somehow guarantee > > stability. > > > What's it all mean? That's up to each viewer, and it's fun (and mind- > > expanding) to surrender to the Village's enigmas and find out. > > > "He's running the Village with the best of motives," declares > > McKellen, speaking of his character, Two. > > > But Two embodies, among other things, the drawbacks of capitalism, > > McKellen says. > > > "Capitalism offers you freedom, but far from giving people freedom, it > > enslaves them," he says. "That's part of the show's message." > > > At 70, the British-born Sir Ian (who was knighted in 1991) is deemed > > one of the greatest actors working today. He has triumphed with > > Shakespeare in his long stage career, while his many films include > > "The Da Vinci Code," the "X-Men" adventures and the "Lord of the > > Rings" trilogy (and, ahead for him, a pair of "Hobbit" films back in > > his role as Gandalf). > > > McKellen says he chooses a project based on whether it is something he > > would like to see himself. Another consideration: Can he learn > > anything from doing the role? > > > He accepted "The Prisoner," he says, because screenwriter Bill > > Gallagher (British TV's "Lark Rise to Candleford," "Conviction") > > "wasn't writing a fantasy, he was writing science fiction — something > > that might indeed happen, NOT something that could never happen. > > > "But I had decided I wanted to do this before I read the final > > episode," which mercifully clears up much of the mystery. > > > "Once I found all the questions," says McKellen, "I just took it on > > trust that Bill would come up with some good answers." > > > McKellen says he saw only enough "to get a flavor" of the original > > "Prisoner" series, which starred Patrick McGoohan as Six while > > shuttling numerous actors through the role of Two. > > > Filming took place in Capetown, South Africa, and in Swakopmund, a > > town on the Atlantic coast of Namibia. Hayley Atwell, Ruth Wilson, > > Lennie James, Rachael Blake and Jamie Campbell Bower also star. > > > Asked how difficult he found the role of Two, McKellen says, "I don't > > think I've ever played a part that I haven't really, really worried > > about, and thought, 'I shouldn't be doing this.' I'm never confident. > > But, perversely, I'll only do a part if I think I can't do it, because > > that will get the best out of me." > > > It was in Swakopmund where McKellen found a tailor who, furnishing > > Two's signature white suit, helped him get into character. > > > That costume, says McKellen, "became my favorite," but he cautions > > that the suit's on-screen spiffiness is oddly missing off-camera. "In > > life, if you saw it you wouldn't want to wear it." > > > Now, as he speaks with a reporter in a New York hotel suite, McKellen > > is fashionably rumpled in a dark striped jacket, vest, open-collar > > shirt and jeans. On his feet are a pair of rubber Calzuro clogs, a > > version of which he was issued with his prison costume as Magneto in > > "X-Men" and has worn ever since. > > > Charming and witty, he slouches back on the couch in thought when > > asked how performing any other part (Magneto? Gandalf? Two?) can > > possibly compare to a Shakespearean role. > > > "That's what Jude Law said to me," says McKellen, who has just seen > > Law on Broadway. "'What am I going to do after Hamlet? Everything is > > going to seem third-rate.' Well, it's true — it is," McKellen sums up > > with a laugh. "Because Shakespeare is FIRST-rate." > > > But then, referring to every other dramatist, he adds, "You can look > > for the good intentions, I suppose, with the understanding that even > > halfway up a mountain, the view can be pretty good." > > > Regular ascents to the summit with Shakespeare have certified > > McKellen's lofty stature. But he suggests his reputation is somewhat > > by default. > > > "If you're associated with great pieces, some of that luster rubs off > > on you. Besides, there are not that many great actors around. Olivier, > > Gielgud, Scofield, Guinness" — now all passed from the scene — "are > > major, major performers, and you can tell I sort of modeled my career > > on them, because I like the sort of things that they liked. > > > "But that's not to say I'm up there with them." > > > Whereupon, with perfect timing, his voice drops to a stage whisper: > > "But don't tell anybody." > > ____________________________ > > > Don't know if you've heard about this, t. I know you're a fan of the > > original TV show.- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Diamond Headz" group. 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