It seems that Christopher Eccleston, perhaps one of the best things about the Doctor Who revival (before his acrimonious exit), may be in line to play Number 6 in an upcoming revival of The Prisoner. The original series is, for my money, one of the finest series ever produced for television. It’s unknown whether Patrick McGoohan will have any involvement, but Eccleston’s intensity, I’m sure, will serve well. Let’s just hope the scripts and the execution are in the right place.
© 2006, Edward Champion. All rights reserved.
acrimonious exit
Where do you get that from, Ed? I haven’t heard anything about Eccleston’s departure that hasn’t suggested that he went into the show intending to stay for a single season and no longer, or that there was any acrimony about his departure.
Any thoughts about Tennant? He hasn’t quite won me over yet – I enjoy his manic moments but I don’t think he’s hit the right note on the corresponding tragic ones.
I cannot wait to hear “I am not a number; I am a free man!” in a Salford accent.
Wow, that’s crazy – I just posted about this same thing last night in my journal, and I know you don’t read it! Here’s what I posted:
Christopher Eccleston linked to remake of The Prisoner – I vaguely know who this dude is, and I hear he’s a good actor – he’s got to be cool if he played Dr. Who. Although, no Dr. Who compares to the one with the ‘fro. Anyway, apparently there’s a a new tv version of the 60’s television series The Prisoner, which is one of my favorite series of all time (I just added it to the top of my Netflix queue again!). I don’t know how they could possibly make The Prisoner better though. It’s amazing as-is. Except the final episode, of course…WTF?
Fortunately the remake is also a UK production. More about the remake at The Six of One site. I’m skeptical…there’s no replacing Patrick McGoohan. Hot damn.
“I’ve resigned. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered! My life is my own.”
This site has music links related to The Prisoner at the bottom of the page – I didn’t know there was an Iron Maiden song about The Prisoner! Rock on.
It’s been reported that Patrick McGoohan has been in failing health; he was considered to play Voldemort in Harry Potter, but he apparently could not accept it even if he wished. Which is sad. The man is a genius. Anyone who keeps me watching a British speculative fiction TV show at the age of 14, when I could hardly understand the plot, will keep me watching him even if he tottering.
If anyone is doing any deals, it may be his conservators and lawyers.
Acrimonious because Eccleston led the BBC on that he was going to play the Doctor for more than a year. Granted, it was the BBC’s fault for not nailing down a contract. So Eccleston is not TECHNICALLY wrong. But there is a bit of an ethical situation I take umbrage with, even though I thought Eccleston’s portrayal of the Doctor was fabulous.
As for Tennant, I think he’s a good actor. But he hasn’t really had the scripts (Russell T. Davies’ fault, really) to establish himself as the Doctor yet. I won’t really have a impression of him until midway through the second season.
I’m very sad to learn that McGoohan is in poor health. I too think he is an exceptionally talented actor, writer and director and, yes, genius could very well apply. In fact, no less than Orson Welles thought McGoohan was one of the finest actors working in the business. (So he says in “It’s All True.” But I don’t have the book handy.)
I hope they don’t screw this up. It’s going to be very difficult to come up with a look that’s as fresh as the original series was. “Twin Peaks” and “The Prisoner” are the finest dramas ever produced for television, as far as I’m concerned.
Acrimonious because Eccleston led the BBC on that he was going to play the Doctor for more than a year.
Interesting. If I’m not mistaken, both Eccleston and Davies have said that he stated from the outset that he was only interested in doing the show for a year, although those interviews were given after the departure was announced and they both had a vested interest in making it seem amicable.
Today it’s official: He will play Number 6.