Caviezel: 'I'd never heard of Prisoner'

Jim Caviezel has admitted that he had never heard of cult show The Prisoner before he was cast in the lead role of the current ITV remake.

The Passion Of The Christ star told Metro that he soon realised how well regarded the original programme was when he visited the UK after accepting the role.

Asked if he was a fan of the show, Caviezel said: "No, I'd never heard of it. I was on my way to do another movie but there was a problem with the financing. Then, bam, they told me to read the script and make a decision immediately.

"I got to London the next week and only then realised how big it was. I told Ian McKellen I was a bit nervous and he said, 'Get used to it darling'."

When asked if the new programme had upset fans of the 1960s classic, he added: "It might have but it isn't really a remake. It's more a homage to the original. It's more relevant to today."

Co-star McKellan has also underlined the differences between the new show and the original.