"The Prisoner" (2009) TV mini-series 2009-

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

15 November 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

You only think you're free

Plot:

An update to the cult favorite series from the 1960s about a government agent who is kidnapped and sent to a remote island known as "the Village".

Plot Keywords:

Village | New York | Number | Old Man | Isolated Town

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Ian McKellen	...	2 / ... (6 episodes, 2009)
Jim Caviezel	...	6 / ... (6 episodes, 2009)
Ruth Wilson	...	313 / ... (6 episodes, 2009)
Lennie James	...	147 / ... (6 episodes, 2009)
Rachael Blake	...	M2 (6 episodes, 2009)
Jamie Campbell Bower	...	11-12 (6 episodes, 2009)
Hayley Atwell	...	Lucy / ... (5 episodes, 2009)
Renate Stuurman	...	21-16 (3 episodes, 2009)
Sara Stewart	...	1891 / ... (2 episodes, 2009)
Hanlé Barnard	...	23-90 (2 episodes, 2009)
David Butler	...	Shopkeeper / ... (2 episodes, 2009)
Leila Henriques	...	Curtis' PA / ... (2 episodes, 2009)
Isabella Calthorpe	...	765 - Wonkers (2 episodes, 2009)
Wolfgang Weissenstein	...	Butler (2 episodes, 2009)
Savannah Charon Esau	...	832 (2 episodes, 2009)
Will Kemp	...	23-30 - Wonkers (2 episodes, 2009)
Vincent Regan	...	909 / ... (2 episodes, 2009)
Jessica Haines	...	554 / ... (2 episodes, 2009)

Series Directed by
Nick Hurran		(6 episodes, 2009)

Series Writing credits
Bill Gallagher		(6 episodes, 2009)

Series Produced by
Michele Buck	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 2009)
Bill Gallagher	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 2009)
Trevor Hopkins	....	producer (6 episodes, 2009)
Rebecca Keane	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 2009)
Lance Samuels	....	producer: Out of Africa (6 episodes, 2009)
Bill Shephard	....	co-producer (6 episodes, 2009)
Damien Timmer	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 2009)
Christina Wayne	....	executive producer (unknown episodes, 2009)

Series Original Music by
Rupert Gregson-Williams		(6 episodes, 2009)

Series Cinematography by
Florian Hoffmeister		(6 episodes, 2009)

Series Film Editing by
Yan Miles		(5 episodes, 2009)
Paul Garrick		(2 episodes, 2009)

Series Casting by
Kate Rhodes James		(6 episodes, 2009)
Billy Hopkins		(unknown episodes, 2009)

Series Production Design by
Michael Pickwoad		(6 episodes, 2009)

Series Art Direction by
Claudio Campana		(6 episodes, 2009)
Delarey Wagenar		(6 episodes, 2009)

Series Set Decoration by
Delia de Villiers Minnaar		(6 episodes, 2009)
Emilia Roux		(6 episodes, 2009)

Series Costume Design by
Jane Clive		(6 episodes, 2009)
Anna B. Sheppard		(6 episodes, 2009)

Series Makeup Department
Natasha du Toit	....	assistant makeup artist (6 episodes, 2009)
Samantha Katzen	....	assistant makeup artist (6 episodes, 2009)
Nadine Prigge	....	make-up and hair designer / hair designer / ... (6 episodes, 2009)

Series Production Management
Gary Connelly	....	production executive (6 episodes, 2009)
Laura Metcalfe	....	post production manager (6 episodes, 2009)
Angela Phillips	....	unit production manager (6 episodes, 2009)
Jean-Roux Viljoen	....	unit manager (6 episodes, 2009)
Gail Kennett	....	executive in charge of production (unknown episodes, 2009)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wendy Croad	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 2009)
Andre Weavind	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 2009)
John Richards	....	second unit director (2 episodes, 2009)

Series Art Department
Storm Dyssell	....	on-set art director (6 episodes, 2009)
Thabo Grobbelaar	....	action vehicles coordinator (6 episodes, 2009)
Egbert Kruger	....	props master (6 episodes, 2009)
Nick Lauer	....	construction manager (6 episodes, 2009)
Jacobus Smit	....	scenic fabricator (6 episodes, 2009)
J.D. van Brakel	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 2009)

Series Sound Department
Brendan-John Allen	....	boom swinger (6 episodes, 2009)
Simon Diggins	....	adr recordist (6 episodes, 2009)
Iain Eyre	....	dialogue editor (6 episodes, 2009)
Jim Goddard	....	sound effects editor (6 episodes, 2009)
Stuart Hilliker	....	re-recording mixer / sound mixer (6 episodes, 2009)
Derek Mansvelt	....	sound recordist (6 episodes, 2009)
Forbes Noonan	....	adr recordist (6 episodes, 2009)
Catherine Thomas	....	foley recordist/editor (6 episodes, 2009)
Lee Walpole	....	sound supervisor (6 episodes, 2009)
Steve Little	....	adr editor / additional adr editor / ... (4 episodes, 2009)
Lee Crichlow	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 2009)

Series Special Effects by
Mickey Kirsten	....	special effects supervisor: South Africa (6 episodes, 2009)

Series Visual Effects by
Axel Akesson	....	lighter: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Paul Amiras	....	digital i/o: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Oliver Armstrong	....	compositor: Cinesite / digital compositor (5 episodes, 2009)
Mawusime Blewuada	....	digital i/o: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Sule Bryan	....	compositor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Simon Bunker	....	shader writer: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Roisin Byrne	....	vfx production accountant: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Warwick Campbell	....	compositor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Chas Cash	....	animator: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Chris Clough	....	digital i/o: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Kunal Desai	....	digital i/o: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Thomas Dyg	....	compositor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Jared Embley	....	FX technical director: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Martin Gabriel	....	vfx producer: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Caroline Garrett	....	cg manager: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Dianne Gordon	....	data operations manager: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Bruno Hajnal	....	lighter: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Sandro Henriques	....	compositor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Matt Johnson	....	visual effects supervisor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Ramin Kamal	....	shader writer: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Christopher Learmonth	....	vfx avid editor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Amy Lloyd	....	matchmover: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Fergal McGivney	....	digital i/o: Cinesitee / digital i/o: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Jonathan Neill	....	visual effects supervisor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Helen Newby	....	compositor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Noel O'Malley	....	matchmover: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Artemis Oikonomopoulou	....	lighter: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Jim Parsons	....	compositor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Daniel Pettipher	....	vfx prdouction manager: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Elena Pierides	....	digital i/o: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Ian Plumb	....	compositor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Carrie Rishel	....	visual effects coordinator: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
John Sissen	....	matchmover: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Adrian Steel	....	senior render wrangler: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Mark Sum	....	visual effects coordinator: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Kim Tobin	....	compositor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Courtney Vanderslice	....	vfx executive producer: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
Karen Wand	....	compositor: Cinesite (5 episodes, 2009)
John Hardwick	....	visual effects artist (3 episodes, 2009)
Will Hardwick	....	visual effects artist (3 episodes, 2009)
Zave Jackson	....	2D supervisor: Cinesite (2 episodes, 2009)
Ben Shepherd	....	visual effects supervisor (2 episodes, 2009)

Series Stunts
Grant Hulley	....	stunt coordinator (6 episodes, 2009)
Fleur van Eeden	....	stunt double (6 episodes, 2009)
Dermot Brogan	....	assistant stunt coordinator / key stunt rigger (unknown episodes, 2009)
Dan Hirst	....	stunt rigger (unknown episodes, 2009)
Boris Martinez	....	stunt double / stunt driver (unknown episodes, 2009)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
James Blyth	....	second assistant camera (6 episodes, 2009)
Steven Caddie	....	best boy grip (6 episodes, 2009)
Craig Feather	....	camera operator: "b" camera (6 episodes, 2009)
Robert Fischer	....	key grip (6 episodes, 2009)
Kevin Groom	....	clap loader (6 episodes, 2009)
Guy Hodgen	....	first assistant camera (6 episodes, 2009)
Jefri Meintjes	....	second assistant a-camera (6 episodes, 2009)
Wayne Shields	....	gaffer (6 episodes, 2009)
Zane Harrison	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (5 episodes, 2009)
Gerhard Geldenhuys	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (2 episodes, 2009)
Keith Bernstein	....	still photographer (unknown episodes, 2009)

Series Casting Department
Moonyeenn Lee	....	casting director: South Africa (6 episodes, 2009)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gizelle Abrahams	....	wardrobe assistant (6 episodes, 2009)
Jane Clive	....	co-costume designer (2 episodes, 2009)
Susan Pollard	....	key stand-by: leads (unknown episodes, 2009)

Series Editorial Department
Mike Andrews	....	digital film technician (6 episodes, 2009)
Justin Eely	....	on-line editor (6 episodes, 2009)
Beverley Horne	....	post-production coordinator (6 episodes, 2009)
Amar Ingreji	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 2009)
Jenny King	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 2009)
Louise Mycielski	....	post-production coordinator: South Africa (6 episodes, 2009)
Andy Richards	....	supervising DI conform editor (6 episodes, 2009)
Gareth Spensley	....	colorist (6 episodes, 2009)

Series Music Department
Tony Clarke	....	composer: additional music (6 episodes, 2009)
Thomas Golubic	....	music supervisor (6 episodes, 2009)
Braden Kimball	....	assistant scoring mixer (6 episodes, 2009)
Alastair King	....	orchestrator (6 episodes, 2009)
Yvette Metoyer	....	music coordinator (6 episodes, 2009)
Lucie Svehlova	....	orchestra leader (6 episodes, 2009)
Robin Whittaker	....	music editor (6 episodes, 2009)
Christopher Willis	....	composer: additional music (6 episodes, 2009)
Christian Davis	....	composer: additional music (3 episodes, 2009)

Series Transportation Department
Morgan Pather	....	transport manager (6 episodes, 2009)

Series Other crew
Robert Bentley	....	location manager: Cape Town (6 episodes, 2009)
Rory Downing	....	business affairs manager (6 episodes, 2009)
Jaco Espach	....	location manager: Namibia (6 episodes, 2009)
Frances Flannery	....	script editor (6 episodes, 2009)
Terry Fletcher	....	script supervisor (6 episodes, 2009)
Lathiem Groenmeyer	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 2009)
Carol Heij	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 2009)
Grant Kilian	....	production secretary (6 episodes, 2009)
John Kirby	....	acting coach: Jim Caviezel (6 episodes, 2009)
Eduard Klarenbeek	....	assistant location manager: Cape Town (6 episodes, 2009)
Edward Kruger	....	petty cash accountant (6 episodes, 2009)
Stefan Kruger	....	accountant / production accountant (6 episodes, 2009)
Nathon S. Lewis	....	personal assistant: Jim Caviezel (6 episodes, 2009)
Yan Miles	....	titles: concept (6 episodes, 2009)
Simon Blakey	....	assistant to the producer / assistant to producer (5 episodes, 2009)
Gary Connelly	....	production executive (5 episodes, 2009)
Cherry Fiddaman	....	financial controller (5 episodes, 2009)
Paul Rutman	....	additional material (3 episodes, 2009)
Louisa French Greenslade	....	assistant to producer / assistant to the producer (2 episodes, 2009)
Joy Sapieka	....	unit publicist (2 episodes, 2009)
Jennie Scanlon	....	script editor / script executive (2 episodes, 2009)
Richard Fiddaman	....	assistant accountant (unknown episodes, 2009)

Production Companies

• Granada International
• ITV Productions
• Out of Africa Entertainment (support)

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV) (2009) (UK) (TV) (ITV1)
• AXN Mystery (2010) (Japan) (TV)
• American Movie Classics (AMC) (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Canvas (2010) (Belgium) (TV)
• Koch Media (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2011) (Finland) (DVD)
• ZDFneo (2011) (Germany) (TV)

Special Effects

• Condor VFX (title design)

Other Companies

• Cut Music  music editorial services
• HireWorks  post-production facilities
• Molinare Studio  post-production
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• Pyranha Stunts  stunt team
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Runtime:

360 min (6 episodes) | Germany:90 min (PAL DVD)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Alfred Mall, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Company:

Granada International

Trivia:

John Lithgow was considered for Number 2, but scheduling conflicts with Season 4 of "Dexter" (2006), forced him to turn it down.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Wright Stuff: Episode #13.5" (2010)

Surreal Subjugation

1967's Cold War and its counter culture are gone; they've been replaced by 2009's global village and its consumer culture. So 2009's Prisoner is no longer an angry young man fighting for his identity against secret government policies and flagrant brainwashing, he's an angst-ridden 30-something trying to hang on to his identity in the face of overwhelming marketing and soothing pharmaceuticals.

2009's The Prisoner takes all the familiar elements of 1967's cult classic and re-interprets them in a relevant way, just like good remakes are supposed to. The psychedelic, lava-lamp surrealism of the sixties may be gone, but, don't worry, they've been replaced by the post-modern, dream-like surrealism of the oughts.

Yes, the Village still needs to assimilate No. 6, but it no longer cares why he would wish to resign from its society, it only wants him to understand that he can't. Instead of foiling No. 6's repeated escape attempts from the superficially charming, but inherently oppressive, Village, this new Village, still just as pleasant-looking, and oppressive, just makes it clear that there is no place else to escape to. The consumer culture and its global village are everywhere now. There is no escape.

So, instead of a government desperately trying Pavlovian conditioning, hypnotic suggestion, and hallucinogens in the water, a corporation tries matching people with their perfect mates, giving them mind-numbing jobs to take their minds off their melancholy, distracting them with melodramatic soap operas, and, maybe, making them feel a little better with some gene-therapy.

Sure, everyone's still under surveillance in this Village, but this time, its not the Village government trying to identify revolutionaries so it can silence them, its the Summakor corporation trying to identify dreamers so it can subject them to a concentrated dose of consumer culture. And if that doesn't work, maybe a few pharmaceuticals and a promotion will co-opt the more troublesome ones.