Variety: AMC to remake "Prisoner" series (!!!)

[villager]

From this morning's Variety, "Village" fans:

AMC remaking 'The Prisoner'
Cable network to produce remake of classic show
By DENISE MARTIN


AMC is remaking 1960s sci-fi cult fave "The Prisoner."
Cabler has come aboard to co-produce at least six episodes -- billed as a modern-day reimagining of the TV series classic -- with U.K.'s Sky One. Granada Intl. also produces.

AMC's is the second adaptation in the works. Universal Pictures has set helmer Christopher Nolan to direct a feature version that Janet and David Peoples are scripting (Daily Variety, Aug. 11). U has the film rights to the skein, while Granada has separate television rights. Like the planned skein, bigscreen pic is said to be a contemporized take on the 1967 thriller.

Bill Gallagher ("Conviction") is writing the series, to be produced by Michelle Buck and Damien Timmer. Production will begin next spring for a debut in both the U.S. and the U.K. in January 2008.

Original "Prisoner," which ran for just 17 episodes, starred Patrick McGoohan as a government agent who resigns and is later kidnapped, given a new identity and placed on an isolated island known as the Village.AMC execs were tightlipped regarding details of the updated version but said it will similarly involve themes of paranoia and deal with sociopolitical issues.

What the new show won't be is an exact replica of the original.

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http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117956008.html?categoryid=2430&cs=1

[ghostsofgiants]

1. Neat. Hopefully it's good.

[Az]

2. Coolness.... although

I do hope they don't keep the details established in the end of the original series. I really don't want Number 1 to be Patrick McGewen in a Gorilla suit. Kinda takes the edge off the series.

But I do hope they keep Rover.

[villager]

3. Yes, Rover. Absolutely.

And yes, they could lose the gorilla mask without harming the original material too much.

I wonder how much it costs to get "All You Need is Love" on the soundtrack now, though?

[TheMightyFavog]

4. Will they shoot it at Portmerion, though?

That place was the perfect setting for a series as surreal as The Prisoner.

[villager]

5. good question -- but I'm going to guess AMC will do

an "Americanized" version, which might not be a bad thing, if done right...

[AllegroRondo]

8. hmmm - what town would they use?

[Rosco T.]

11. No, they won't...

contrary to the article, this is a 99% Sky One/Granada production... AMC will just be giving money. This will be a very British Show.

[Feron]

6. Eh

The original was perfect and I'm afraid to see what they are going to do with it.

Hopefully it will be done well.

[Richardo]

7. "reimagining"="crap waiting to happen"

It means that the core fans will hate it.

Ever since Tim Burton used the term for 'Planet of the Apes' it's been a big red flag for me.

[deucemagnet]

9. I'll bet they screw it up.

There's already a surreal TV thriller set on an island, and it's called "Lost". I think "reimagining the TV series classic" is just jumping on the bandwagon.

[villager]

10. ah, but: Was it an island?