Ian McKellen and Jim Caviezel to star in ITV reinvention of classic thriller The Prisoner
30/06/2008
ITV announced today that Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen will star in the network’s reinvention of the 1960s classic cult thriller The Prisoner. Caviezel takes the role of Number Six while McKellen will appear throughout the series in the role of Number Two. ITV Productions is co-producing the six-part series with Granada International and AMC, with a worldwide premiere slated for 2009.
In the 1960s, The Prisoner helped permanently alter the scope of the fantasy genre. Through the work of Patrick McGoohan – who created, produced, wrote and directed the series, and starred in the lead role of Number Six – The Prisoner is widely regarded as one of the most well regarded and intriguing cult TV series ever created.
While the original series, which debuted in 1967, was a riff on Cold War politics, ITV’s remake will reflect 21st century concerns and anxieties, such as liberty, security and surveillance, yet also showcase the same key elements of paranoia, tense action and socio-political commentary seen in McGoohan’s enigmatic original.
The six one-hour episodes tell the story of a man who finds himself trapped in a mysterious and surreal place known as The Village, with no memory of how he arrived. As he frantically explores his environment, he discovers that its inhabitants are identified by number instead of by name and have no memory of a prior existence or outside civilization. Not knowing who to trust, Number Six is driven by the desperate need to discover the truth behind The Village, the reason for his being there, and most importantly, how he can survive and escape to his previous life.
The Village is controlled by one man – the sinister and charismatic Number Two. In each new episode Six and Two are locked in a battle of wits, as Six challenges the oppressive nature of The Village and battles against his captors. Six must find out what The Village is, but in doing so, he must also confront some dark truths about himself.
Jim Caviezel first received critical recognition for his role as idealist Private Witt in The Thin Red Line. The following year, he gained further recognition with roles in Ride with the Devil and Frequency. In 2001, his role as Jennifer Lopez’s love interest in Angel Eyes helped to establish him as a versatile actor and leading man. Caviezel was then chosen by Mel Gibson to star as Jesus Christ in the film The Passion of the Christ. The film went on to become one of the highest grossing movies of all-time and made Jim a household-name. Most recently Caviezel played against type when he co-starred opposite Denzel Washington in the thriller Déjà vu.
Ian McKellen is one of the world’s foremost stage and screen actors and has been honoured with more than 40 International awards. Most recently, he received critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of “Gandalf” in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. McKellen’s work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to fantasy and sci-fi, with other major film credits including Gods and Monsters, X-Men, Richard III and The Da Vinci Code.
McKellen says of the role: “Bill Gallagher’s new version of The Prisoner is an enthralling commentary on modern culture. It is witty, intelligent and disturbing. I am very excited to be involved.”
John Whiston, Director of ITV Productions says: “For those of us who were watching grown up TV in the 60s The Prisoner was dangerous, exciting and challenging TV. For those of us who were too young to stay up to watch the series, it casts a long shadow. You don’t embark on something this iconic without the best team around to do it justice for a whole new era. With Bill Gallagher as writer, Trevor Hopkins as Producer, Michele Buck, Damien Timmer and Rebecca Keane as the UK Execs, AMC as production partners, ITV as UK Commissioners and Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen leading the cast, we have that team on board. I can’t wait.”
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.”
ITV’s Managing Director Global Content, Lee Bartlett, said: “As an ardent fan of both Patrick McGoohan’s original vision and now Bill Gallagher’s reimagining, I am excited that The Prisoner will become the first project to be greenlit as part of ITV’s new co-production model with US studios and networks. In particular, I am delighted to be partnering with AMC on such a prestigious project.”
The Prisoner is a co-production of AMC and ITV Productions; the deal brokered by ITV Worldwide, which holds all international rights, as well as sales and remake right to the original series. ITV DVD holds Home Entertainment rights. The series is written and Executive Produced by Bill Gallagher (Conviction, Clocking Off, Lark Rise To Candleford), Executive Produced by Michele Buck, Damien Timmer and Rebecca Keane for ITV and AMC’s Charlie Collier, Christina Wayne and Vlad Wolynetz, Produced by Trevor Hopkins (Dracula, Poirot) and Directed by Jon Jones (Northanger Abbey, Cold Feet, Archangel, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Alan Clark Diaries). Jim Caviezel’s deal was coordinated by ICM. Creative Artists Agency orchestrated the deal on behalf of Sir Ian McKellen.
About ITV Productions
Part of ITV Global Content, ITV Productions is one of Europe’s leading commercial production companies producing more than 1,500 hours of original programming each year. It is responsible for some of the most popular drama brands on UK television including soap brands Coronation Street and Emmerdale, as well as classic drama serials such as the primetime Emmy award winning Prime Suspect, and acclaimed series Cracker, Lewis, Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Marple. It also produces highly-rated work for other channels such as The Street and The Royle Family for the BBC, Brainiac for Sky and Countdown and Longford for Channel 4, which recently won 3 Golden Globes. ITV Productions also made the successful, critically-acclaimed and Oscar winning feature film of 2006, The Queen.
Press Contacts:
Holly Palin, Head of Drama Publicity
Holly.palin@itv.com
Luke Morrison, Drama Publicist
Luke.morrison@itv.com
Picture Publicity Contact:
Shane Chapman, Head of Picture Publicity
Shane.chapman@itv.com
James Hilder, Picture Publicist
James.hilder@itv.com