Ian McKellen in "Prisoner" Remake

Variety has reported that Sir Ian McKellen will play the dastardly "Number 2" in an upcoming AMC remake of the acclaimed 1960s TV Series, The Prisoner.

In the original series, which starred Patrick McGoohan in the leading role of "Number 6," the part of "Number 2" was played by a variety of actors, as the person putatively in charge of "the island" was changed from episode to episode.

The remake, a 6-part mini-series, apparently will keep McKellen as the only actor to play Number 2.

Jim Caviezel has been cast as Number 6. Bill Gallagher will write the series.

Show will air in 2009, at a date still to be determined.