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It absolutely makes sense Christopher Nolan would be interested in adapting “The Prisoner.” It’s an exceptionally influential television series that dabbles in surrealism, functioning as an allegorical conceit between individualism and collectivism. Such heady concepts are prime for Nolan to explore. Plus, the show has the added benefit of dealing with spies. In a way, it could be considered an anti-James Bond project, and Nolan would also make a great candidate to direct a Bond film. “The Prisoner” feels right up his alley, the opportunity to create a thinking man’s spy movie while introducing a generation to a fantastic sci-fi series.
“The Simpsons” made fun of “The Prisoner,” but it should give viewers a taste of what to expect if they want to watch that episode on Disney+. Granted, the “Prisoner” portion of “The Computer Wore Menace Shows” is only the last third of the episode’s runtime, but it introduces the audience to the idea of a mysterious power keeping people hidden from the rest of the world against their will. “The Simpsons” also includes the white bubble from “The Prisoner” known as Rover, which could incapacitate anyone trying to leave the island. That white bubble also gets referenced in another “Simpsons” episode — Season 9’s “The Joy of Sect” — where Marge (Julie Kavner) escapes it after running away from a cult.
It’s clear “The Simpsons” had some fans of “The Prisoner” on its staff. It may not be a mainstream touchstone at this point, but a Christopher Nolan movie remake could change all that. And if people want to get familiar with “The Prisoner,” it’s a TV series you can watch for free on YouTube.
