SDCC 2009 COVERAGE SPONSORED BY
The Village finally made itself known at Comic-Con with Rover the white ball hovering through the Gaslamp district, and a swarm of booth-dudes dressed in Patrick McGoohan’s iconic suit, handing out comics and pins, and even assigning people with Village IDs (Number 1003, represent!).
However, it was The Prisoner panel that brought the goods for anyone curious about the up-until-now-top-secret series. The panel started with nine minutes of beautifully-shot, tense teaser footage that included an appearance of… pig masks?
The panel went nuts with Rover’s appearance, even though the lid was quietly blown off the news to anyone who saw the very visible big, white, ball hovering below Number 6 on the print ads and at The Prisoner booth.
On hand for the panel, were writer Bill Gallagher, James “Jesus” Caviezel (the new Six), Lennie James, who plays #147, described as a pretty by-the-rules character, and Jamie Campbell Bower (Number 11-12), who happens to be the son of Number Two (played by Ian McKellen). [The theme of “family” will apparently be a big part of the new series.]
Lennie James addressed the mysterious numbered identities:
“Everyone tries to kind of figure out if their numbers mean anything – and they do,” to which he briefly paused and added, “but actually, they don’t,” giving a good sign of the paranoid double-speak we can hope to see in the series.
On the genesis of the series, an AMC exec on the panel explained how he was terrified of touching something that already meant something to so many people, but, as far as their network branding went — with Mad Men and Breaking Bad focusing on individuals dissenting with their surroundings – it’s hard to ignore that The Prisoner is a natural fit.
Aside from the footage, writer Bill Gallagher’s intention and approach for the series was what really sold me on the series, especially when he said new The Prisoner is a response — not a repeat of the original — adding individuality, and selfishness by extension, can just as easily be a dangerous to society.
There were other cool bits that were dropped during the panel:
-The series is six parts that will run in 2-hour episodes at a time, for three nights in a row; on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Each episode examines individual themes, but the series will also give the experience of an awesomely long film.
-The Pleasantville teepees seen in the footage actually existed before the shoot, and people really do live in them.
– Patrick McGoohan was aware –and supportive — of the re-imagining, and even suggested that he play the part of Number Two.
– Rover almost didn’t make it into the script. There were also brief talks of having an anthropomorphic version of original series’ bizarre, floating gatekeeper, as well turning him into a mass of “sagging flesh.”
– The original 60’s Village will make an appearance in the series, as an “escape resort.”
-Lennie James ominously told the crowd: “When the pigs come out you’re gonna freak,” of the brief appearance of the pig-people in the teaser footage.
The panel ended with a convention-only clip, featuring Number Two mind-frakking The Village’s psychologist.
The Village will be seeing you later in 2009 and keep checking back for Editor-in-Chief Joe Dilworth’s Comic-Con interviews with series writer Bill Gallagher and star Jamie Campbell Bower. In the meantime, catch highlights from the Comic-Con panel below and download the free comic from Marvel Comics right here!