Ridley Scott Looking To Remake ’60s Cult Hit Series ‘The Prisoner’ As A Movie
Ridley Scottisn’t one to waste time. He dove into pre-production onAlien: Covenantalmost the momenthe was done withThe Martian, and now asAlien: Covenantnears its start date, he may have already lined up his next directorial effort. A new report indicates Scott is in talks to directThe Prisoner, based on the 1960s British cult hit series.
The originalThe Prisoneraired for 17 episodes from 1967 and 1968 in the U.K., and told the story of an unnamed British government agent played byPatrick McGoohan. After abruptly resigning from his job, he prepares to leave the country, only to find himself kidnapped and imprisoned in a mysterious, isolated seaside village. Residents are heavily monitored, including by other residents, and those who try to escape are recaptured or killed. The series was remade once before in 2009, by AMC and ITV with Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen starring.
According toDeadline, Scott has entered early negotiations forThe Prisoner, which is set up at Universal with Bluegrass Films’Scott StuberandDylan Clarkproducing. If Scott closes his deal, his company Scott Free will likely produce as well. The trade reports A-list scribes and actors are already vying for the project, especially now that Scott is circling. No timetable has been given forThe Prisoner, but seeing as Scott is currently tied up withAlien: Covenant, it’ll probably stay on the backburner for another year or two at least.
The film, which is set up at Universal, has already been in development for some time. Several top writers includingChris McQuarrie(Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation) have contributed drafts of the script, withWilliam Monahan(The Departed) behind the most recent version.Christopher Nolanwas once attached to direct, dropped out all the way back in 2009.
Here’s a clip to give you a taste of the original. Spoiler alert for a fifty-year-old series.
