McKellan and Caviezel captured for AMC's remake of The Prisoner

I don't know how they keep doing it; AMC that is. Not only have they brought us stellar series (Mad Men) after stellar series (Breaking Bad), but now they've managed to snag two big-time Hollywood names to join the cast of their remake of one of the smartest shows in television history. What started as rumor, that even we at TV Squad had a hard time believing, is now fact. Both Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellan have been cast in AMC's remake of The Prisoner. Caviezel is set to fill Patrick McGoohan's shoes as the titular "Number Six," while McKellan will step into the role of "Number Two."

AMC's The Prisoner is scheduled to be a six-part mini-series. It hasn't been made clear if those six parts are one hour, two or a combination of both, but either way the original wrapped up in 17 so there's no reason to think we can't get a satisfying tale in six installments. With casting of the two principals announced, it's actually safe to say now that this thing might really get made. AMC is cruising right along with their original programming, and after forty years, I think we're due a re-imagining of this classic series. And unlike the disastrous The Andromeda Strain at A&E, I have faith that AMC won't let me down ... don't let me down, AMC!

As a huge fan of The Prisoner and honestly couldn't think of a better time culturally for a remake. The first series was very much a response to the paranoia of the Cold War and mistrust among Eastern and Western bloc countries. Luckily, so to speak, we're in just such an era of mistrust and paranoia now with the ongoing "War on Terrorism." With Homeland Security and the other activities we've taken to doing in this country, it's not too unreasonable to think that a government agent who abruptly resigns with no explanation might be held and interrogated to find out why he quit. And while I can't speak for the UK, and am not even sure if this new series will be set there as the original was, I'd imagine the tensions and sentiments would be at least similar.