January 8, 2016

NEW PRISONER

Big Finish recently shared a sample of their upcoming release in a new audio-drama series based on The Prisoner, but that's not what has fans buzzing around the spy network today. According to Deadline, director Ridley Scott is in talks with Scott Stuber and Dylan Clark of Bluegrass Films about bringing Patrick McGoohan's cult spy classic, The Prisoner, to the big screen. The project has been in the works at Universal for quite some time. I was discussing a film adaptation about eight years ago with screenwriter David Peoples (12 Monkeys, Unforgiven), who was then collaborating with Christopher Nolan. I gave David the homemade Prisoner episode guide I made during my childhood for inspiration, but sadly that project lost steam as Nolan moved on and another group was producing a TV mini series with Sir Ian McKellen. That TV version was completed, but with few memorable qualities and just a tad too many character cliches. Now that Ridley Scott is interested, perhaps the feature film will finally have its day. According to Deadline, scribes who picked up after David Peoples have been Christopher McQuarrie (Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation) and, most recently, William Monahan (The Departed). I join my community in being cautiously optimistic. Of course, I'd love to see a cool update, especially as McGoohan's themes of individuality, freedom, and privacy are more important than ever. But I also wonder when people will just knuckle down and create new masterpieces instead of trying to mine the past for ideas. There have been some cool updated versions of properties made, to be sure, but our beloved 1960s spy world has been hit rather hard by poor re-makes with little vision. Maybe in the hands of a master filmmaker like Scott (who cut his teeth on 1960s shows like Z Cars and Adam Adamant Lives!), we will finally see the bar raised higher. Certainly the success and longevity of shows like The Prisoner and The Avengers can be attributed to originality and risk-taking, qualities that are often lacking in big-budget productions. My first bit of advice to the team would be to stay true to McGoohan's vision, which was summed up so well in his proclamation, "I am Not a Number!!" And if they can cast a Brit who can deliver the line with an equal amount of biting intensity, they might be half-way there. Stay tuned for updates as things develop. Happy Friday, Spy Vibers!


Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Who's Talking on Spy VibeUFO Blu-rayAvengers Pop Art InterviewFritz Lang SpiesFergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes InterviewJaz Wiseman Interview, 007 SPECTRE ComicsCasino Royale FolioNew James Bond ComicDiana Rigg BFI InterviewCasino Royale Interview: Mike RichardsonEarly Saint Box SetLost Diana Rigg InterviewHonor Blackman at 90UNCLE SchoolIan Fleming MemorialRadiophonic ExhibitPortmeirion PhotosDoctor Who ExhibitFarewell SteedPussy Galore ReturnsDiana Rigg birthdaySherlock at 221BInvisible AgentSaint Interview: Ian DickersonSaint DoppelgängerFleming's TypewriterRare FlemingFleming's MusicIan Fleming's JapanJim Wilson Corgi InterviewFantomas DesignJeremy Duns on BondJohn Buss interviewAvengers Season 5 TitlesSaint VolvoMod Tales InterviewAgente Secreto ComicsDanger Man Comics 2Danger Man ComicsJohn Drake ComicsDer Mann Von UNCLEGolden Margaret NolanMan From UNCLE RocksteadyPussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P.Edward Mann FashionLeonard Nimoy TributeShatner at 84Bob Morane seriesThai Bond DesignBond vs ModernismArt of ModestyTokyo Beat 1964Feraud Mod FashionGreen Hornet MangaNo 6 FestivalAvengers Interview: Michael RichardsonIan Fleming: Wicked GrinJane Bond Hong Kong RecordsRyan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.Comics Week: ArchieComics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMANComics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana RiggShakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny InterviewThe 10th Victim Japanese and KindleU.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Trina Robbins InterviewCatsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.

1 comment:

  1. I'm not convinced they'll get it right. I'm not sure western society has the right mindset for the storyline nowadays.

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