Two things new in the Village; something old, something new. Apparently, there’s a new Prisoner miniseries being made for 2009.
In 2009, AMC will present The Prisoner miniseries starring Ian McKellen as Two and Jim Caviezel as Six. This site provides you with behind the scenes access to the making of the show.
Ian McKellan as Number Two? Okay, maybe, but, damn, Leo McKern was so good and so much larger. But, there are almost exactly zero actors I can imagine as Number Six other than Patrick McGoohan. As if McGoohan wasn’t sublime enough, the pair of them, McGoohan and McKern … ineffable, numinous times two.
In addition to that, AMC has put up the original, viewable online, and … wait for it … the episodes can be embedded in, oh, I don’t know … maybe a blog post.
You know, I never thought about it before but those melodramatic thunder sounds in the open of episode one as I watched remind me of Hot Fuzz … Anyhow, I don’t know about you, but for me the online episode is almost unwatchable. Bummer.
Now, I don’t know about other online video downloads, but I do notice that AMC has their little niche carved out in iTunes so maybe the miniseries will be available there, and elsewhere.
I knew there were rumours of a remake in the works, I think for quite some time; but, it’s just around the corner. I hope they do well with it.
Update 14jan09 @ 1:13pm:
Well, crap.
Emmy-winning actor Patrick McGoohan, best known for starring in cult 1960s TV show The Prisoner, has died at the age of 80.
The BBC also has a section of Cult TV about The Prisoner.