And now I have the jitters. When AMC have a production blog written from Africa as we speak, it's hard to dismiss "They're remaking the Prisoner" as mere rumours. You may recall that I was (briefly) impressed by the idea of David+Janet Peoples teaming up with Christopher Nolan for a movie, but that was then and this is now. It is actually happening.

Alarm bells go off when the AMC website describes it as "reinterpretation". Its a little more free than "remake", it means they can do whatever the hell they like. I'm giving it cautious support - after all, there's no sense in remaking something identical, unless the original has perished in fire. And there are new things for the premise to say, new threats for No. 6 to kick against - who's betting the villains won't be pesky Ruskies this time?

From AMC's Site: "A man, known as "Six," finds himself inexplicably trapped in "The Village" with no memory of how he arrived. As he explores his environment, he discovers that his fellow inhabitants are identified by number instead of name, have no memory of any prior existence, and are under constant surveillance. Not knowing whom to trust, Six is driven by the need to discover the truth behind The Village, the reason for his being there, and most importantly -- how he can escape. Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ , The Thin Red Line) will play the role of "Number Six" and two-time Oscar Winner, Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings, The Da Vinci Code) will co-star as "Number Two."

The lack of memories is an interesting edge - it means that fans of the original will be on a peculiar sort of tenterhook along with new viewers. Not "what's going on here?" but "is what's going on here the same as it was last time?". It delays the fan backlash until after the show, not before. In the old show, the characters all knew precicely what was going on - they just didn't bother to share it with the audience.

So many questions - I am trying to be optimistic. How are they going to replace Rover? Is this Number 313 chick, who will inevitably play love interest, going to turn round and double cross him? Who is Number 1, this time round? Are they going to keep a tribute to the talk at the start of the episode? Will No. 6 be played as an American? WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE LAST EPISODE?!?!? (mind you, old-school fans will appreciate that that question is still being asked about the old series final episode Fall Out...)

No, I'm not having angry heart attacks, not yet - because I believe it can be done. Because Number 6 standing up against conformity is timeless, and has its place in every generation. Because there are always new ways to go with an idea that ingenious. If anything, I'm encouraged that they're going their own way instead of slaving to what's past. It's not like with Brideshead Revisited, where the job of an adaptation is to be accurate. I could be annoyed if the characters are called Two and Six instead of Number 2 and Number 6, because it's a tiny thing that'll grate 24 times an episode.

No, the worst thing will be dealing with my sister (no offense, Half Pint) who has such a think for American Series Television, the way I have a thing for Kitchy 60s TV, once it airs and she invariably likes it more. The house will be unbearable!