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From Mars to The Village: Ridley Scott directs ‘The Prisoner’…?

Patrick McGoohan The Prisoner

With his latest sci-fi epic The Martian winning a Golden Globe – in the unusual category of Musical or Comedy Picture! – perhaps Ridley Scott could do with more surreal developments in his life. Well it looks like that could happen as Universal have gotten him round a table to talk about helming the movie adaptation of The Prisoner.

Patrick McGoohan (above) devised and starred in this offbeat adventure series as a British spy kidnapped and holed up in a mysterious location known as The Village, after he resigns from his position. Originally shown on ITV in the late Sixties, it boasted a catalogue of bizarre events, the most memorable of which was a giant balloon that would chase and smother residents who tried to escape.

Shot at Portmeirion in Wales, the production benefitted from its elaborate retro architecture. It’s unclear if the studio would shoot at the original location or whether they’re pursuing something different. ITV remade the show in 2009 with the crew going to Namibia. Last week an audio series based on the concept was launched by Big Finish Productions.

Filmmakers have been keen to realize a cinematic version for years, with Christopher Nolan just one of the names approached. William Monahan has written the most recent draft of the script and Bluegrass Films are producing.

Does Scott have the eccentric qualities required to bring The Prisoner back as fans know it? Either way two very British institutions may be about to join forces. Though the last time a small screen Sixties spy romp was rebooted by Hollywood we wound up with The (non-Marvel) Avengers…!

 

Steve is a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. His short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.

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