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 Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art Interview, Fritz Lang Spies, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, 007 SPECTRE Comics, Casino Royale Folio, New James Bond Comic, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Early Saint Box Set, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Radiophonic Exhibit, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, Jeremy Duns on Bond, John Buss interview, Avengers Season 5 Titles, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Art of Modesty, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, No 6 Festival, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.