Plans confirmed to remake 'The Prisoner'

Apr 26 2008 by Darren Devine, Western Mail

A NEW series of cult TV drama The Prisoner is to be made more than 40 years after the original was first broadcast.

Since the series, which was filmed at the Italianate village of Portmeirion, in Gwynedd, ended, there have been periodic suggestions of a follow-up.

The show’s enduring image is of actor Patrick McGoohan, who played Number Six, being pursued along the shoreline by the giant Rover balloon whose job it was to hold him captive.

The science fiction fantasy about one man’s struggle against an unseen authority has been the subject of books, documentaries, university courses and even featured in an episode of The Simpsons. ITV confirmed yesterday that a “re-versioning” of the original is to be made.

Reports have suggested McGoohan, who is 80 and lives in California, will make a cameo appearance in the new series. It has also been claimed filming has already begun in Libya with actor Jim Caviezel in the title role.

But a spokesperson for ITV yesterday said neither filming nor casting had taken place.

“It’s not so much a second series – we are in development for remaking or re-versioning The Prisoner, that’s true.

“No casting has been confirmed so the names that have been mentioned are pure speculation. Also the suggestion we’re filming in Libya is untrue. We haven’t worked out where we’re going to be filming it at this stage.”

The statement leaves open the possibility of the new series being filmed at Portmeirion, which would be a massive fillip for the resort.

After the original was broadcast visitor numbers increased by 50% overnight.

And when an episode of ITV drama Cold Feet was filmed there several years ago, the attraction’s popularity leapt by 15%.

The managing director of Portmeirion, Robin Llywelyn, agreed that an association with a hit TV show brings positive publicity it was impossible to buy.

He said: “'I am delighted to hear The Prisoner is being revived. The fact it still enjoys a cult following after 40 years suggests this is long overdue. Portmeirion was used as the location for the first series and would be honoured to be part of the second series. Time may have taken its toll on the human cast but the 40-year interval has not changed the village in any way.”

Roger Langley, principal organiser of the Prisoner Appreciation Society Six of One, said he’s confident a new series is closer than ever.

Mr Langley, author of the recent book Patrick McGoohan: Danger Man or Prisoner?, said that as well as a new TV series, film-makers Universal Studios still have a plan to make a film sequel. McGoohan was involved in this several years back when he delivered his own script for a Prisoner movie.

Mr Langley said: “There’s always been two distinctly separate plans. One was to make a film sequel called The Prisoner by Universal Studios. And from the end of 2006, Sky One said they were linking up with Granada to make a mini-series of six episodes.

“But Sky dropped out at the end of last year and they’re remaking Blake’s 7 (another TV science fiction series) instead of The Prisoner.

“I think there could still be two plans.”

Page two: Who could play the next Prisoner?