ITV announced today new cast members to star in its reinterpretation of
the highly influential 1960s cult classic, The Prisoner. ITV is
co-producing the six-part series with AMC and Granada International,
with a worldwide premiere in 2009. Today’s news comes on the heels of
the recent announcement that Jim Caviezel will play the title role of
“Number Six” and two-time Oscar nominee Ian McKellen will co-star
playing the role of “Number Two.”
New cast members of The Prisoner include: Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre,
Capturing Mary) in the role of Number 313; Hayley Atwell (Brideshead
Revisited, Mansfield Park) as Number 41-5; Lennie James (Jericho, 24
Hour Party People) as Number 147; and Jamie Campbell-Bower (Sweeney
Todd, Rocknrolla) as Number 11-12.
Ruth Wilson is a BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated actress best known
for her portrayal of Jane Eyre; she also gained critical acclaim in
Stephan Poliakoff's Capturing Mary and A Real Summer.
Hayley Atwell is soon to appear as Julia Flyte in the forthcoming movie
remake of Brideshead Revisited; her previous work includes the
television adaptations of The Ruby in the Smoke and The Line of Beauty,
as well as Mansfield Park for ITV.
Lennie James has had a prolific career on television, film and in
theatre. Most recently he has appeared in both series of the cult CBS
show Jericho as the mysterious Robert Hawkins. His film works include
Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People and Guy Ritchie's movie
Snatch.
Jamie Campell-Bower is best known for his portrayal of Anthony,
alongside Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd. He has recently filmed
Rocknrolla, Guy Ritchie's latest directorial project.
The Prisoner combines a wide range of genres, including espionage,
thriller and Sci-Fi, into a unique and compelling drama.
Patrick McGoohan served as the creator, producer, writer and director
of the 1960s series, which has become widely regarded as one of the
most famous and intriguing cult TV series ever created, permanently
altering the scope of the fantasy genre. While the original series,
which debuted in 1967, was a riff on Cold War politics, ITV’s
reinterpretation will reflect 21st Century concerns and anxieties, such
as liberty, security, and surveillance, yet also showcase the same key
elements of paranoia, tense action and socio-political commentary seen
in McGoohan’s enigmatic original.
The Prisoner is a co-production of AMC and ITV Productions; the deal
brokered by ITV Worldwide, which holds all international rights, as
well as sales and remake right to the original series. ITV DVD holds
Home Entertainment rights. The series is written and Executive Produced
by Bill Gallagher (Conviction, Clocking Off, Lark Rise To Candleford),
Executive Produced by Michele Buck, Damien Timmer and Rebecca Keane for
ITV and AMC’s Charlie Collier, Christina Wayne and Vlad Wolynetz.
Produced by Trevor Hopkins (Dracula, Poirot) and Directed by Jon Jones
(Northanger Abbey, Cold Feet, Archangel, The Diary of Anne Frank, The
Alan Clark Diaries). Jim Caviezel’s deal was coordinated by ICM.
Creative Artists Agency orchestrated the deal on behalf of Sir Ian
McKellen.
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