Six of One, the "official appreciation society" for the 1960's cult classic television series The Prisoner, which inspired two of my best-remembered videogames, announced the news that Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen will be in Swakopmund shortly to star in the six-part ITV reinvention of the show.

The original series was about a man who finds himself trapped in a mysterious place called The Village, with no memory of how he arrived there. The "prisoner" explores his environment and finds out that the inhabitants are identified by numbers instead of names, and also have no memory of a prior existence or outside civilisation. 'Number Six' (Caviezel) is driven by a desperate need to discover the truth behind The Village, the reason for his being there, and most importantly, how he can survive and escape. The Village is controlled by "the sinister and charismatic" 'Number Two' (McKellen).

In each new episode Six and Two are locked in a battle of wits, as Six challenges the oppressive nature of The Village and battles against his captors. Six must find out what The Village is, but in doing so, he must also confront some dark truths about himself.

Set-production teams are already busy with several stages around Swakopmund - particularly the Mole area and the town's center. The shooting of the series is set to start in August, and certain parts of town will be closed for short intervals. Sapieka said the closure of certain areas would be announced in advance.

The Prisoner, created by actor Patrick McGoohan in 1967, is regarded as one of the most intriguing TV series ever created. While the original series was a riff on Cold War politics, ITV's remake 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 series has a couple of connections with me beyond my unofficial adaptations of the show. I corresponded with Ian McKellen while reporting on the production of Lord of the Rings during my involvement with TheOneRing.com. Also, my wife formerly worked with Jim Caviezel's wife, whom I met at a work-related lunch. So, I am very excited to see this "reinvention" when it airs next year here in the U.S. on the cable channel AMC.