Nolan Takes On The Prisoner

The cult sensation that was the British television series "The Prisoner" seems to be on its way to being resurrected as a big screen feature, and one of Hollywood’s hottest directors is taking the helm. Christopher Nolan of "Memento" and "Batman Begins" acclaim will be bringing Patrick McGoohan’s Number Six to a new generation, an audience that may find the premise somewhat familiar thanks to the present hit TV series "Lost."

"The Prisoner" was set on a remote island where McGoohan’s former government agent is held captive after being kidnapped and removed from the known world. The prison known as The Village is a compound where identity, individuality, and independence are dangerous and rebellious concepts. Each person kept on this strange island with no links to the outside world and no hope for a getaway is stripped of their name and given a number. Number Six was McGoohan’s hero, and he was dubbed The Prisoner.

The story of a remote location where the mystery of being there and how to escape certainly rings familiar. In fact, "Lost" could be equated to a modern day equivalent of "The Prisoner," and taking that into account, it’s no wonder that they are interested in remaking "The Prisoner" as a feature film. And, Nolan is more than capable of bringing it to life as the creepy, psychological thriller and philosophical Rubik's cube it was during its short 17-epipsode run. That is, after he finishes "Dark Knight" of course.