Summary
- The Prisoner has potential to adopt Inception's dream manipulation lore, setting up for an exciting connection between the two films.
- The Prisoner's dream manipulation arc introduces similar concepts to Inception, offering a fresh take if remade by Christopher Nolan.
- A shared cinematic universe between The Prisoner and Inception could raise anticipation and excitement for the remake's release.
An Inception sequel may have never been promised, but Christopher Nolan's next rumored film has the potential to become a secret follow-up to the 2010 film. Most details surrounding Christopher Nolan's next movie remain shrouded in mystery. However, after the director's Oscar win for Oppenheimer, it is hard not to eagerly wait for his next film's announcement. Although no official confirmations have been made surrounding Nolan's next project, rumors suggest that it may be a remake of the acclaimed 1967 miniseries The Prisoner.
On the surface, The Prisoner does not share much common ground with Inception and unfolds more like a classic spy thriller with a few sci-fi elements. It revolves around a man who, after resigning from his government job, finds himself in a mysterious settlement called "The Village," where every citizen has a number assigned to them instead of a name. However, a closer look at The Prisoner's story beats reveals that it might have the perfect setup to sell itself an Inception follow-up.
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The Prisoner Has The Perfect Setup To Adopt Inception's Dream Manipulation Lore
The Prisoner also dabbles with ideas surrounding dream manipulation and inception
In The Prisoner, an intriguing story arc focuses on dream manipulation and control. Its portrayal of dreams and their subconscious layers is not as meticulous and complex as Inception's. However, if Christopher Nolan creates a movie remake of the 1967 series, the show might have already given him the perfect setup to adopt Inception's dream manipulation lore. The dream manipulation arc in The Prisoner introduces two primary players: the protagonist, Number Six, and his adversary, Number Two. For several nights in a row, Number Two drugs Number Six and forces him to dream the same events of his life.
While the process of inception highlighted in The Prisoner is significantly different from the one featured in the Nolan movie, the fact that it shows dream inception gives the remake the perfect opportunity to feature Inception's dreaming device.
Inception's dream-sharing and control mechanics have a similar initial process in which characters use a fictional compound called Somnacin to trigger lucid dreaming and even mix the compound with concoctions of sedatives to make their dreams more stable. In The Prisoner, Number Two and a scientist also attempt to incept Number 6's dreams by inserting different characters into them. While the process of inception highlighted in The Prisoner is significantly different from the one featured in the Nolan movie, the fact that it shows dream inception gives the remake the perfect opportunity to feature Inception's dreaming devices.
The Prisoner's dream manipulation arc takes an even more fascinating turn when Number 6 becomes aware of his dreams and uses his realization as a weapon to counter Number Two. Something similar happens in Inception's opening moments, where Saito's keen sense of awareness helps him realize that he is in a dream within a dream. Given all the similarities between Inception and The Prisoner's dream manipulation arc, it would not be surprising if Nolan adopted some of Inception's solid dream lore and devices in the speculated remake.
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The Prisoner Can Be Set In The Same Universe As Inception
The Prisoner would work better as an extension of Inception's universe
Apart from dream manipulation, The Prisoner adopts several other enticing sci-fi concepts, like consciousness swapping and virtual reality. The show also has philosophical themes surrounding individualism, misuse of power, and the gradual erosion of personal freedom. With these ideas and themes, The Prisoner's movie remake could be rehashed as an Inception sequel. However, since The Prisoner and Inception have their own distinct identities, it would be better if Christopher Nolan's The Prisoner unfolds in the same universe as Inception but not as its direct sequel.
By merely borrowing Inception's dream mythology and devices, The Prisoner would be able to perfectly complement and coexist with the Nolan film, offering audiences both an extension and reintrepretation of the established concepts and notions in Inception.
This way, The Prisoner could expand the dream manipulation lore introduced in Inception without getting overshadowed by the 2010 Christopher Nolan film's legacy or potentially confusing new audiences with unnecessary narrative continuity. By merely borrowing Inception's dream mythology and devices, The Prisoner would perfectly complement and coexist with the Nolan film, offering audiences both an extension and reinterpretation of the established concepts and notions in Inception. As a result, both Inception and The Prisoner remake would resonate with audiences in their own unique ways.
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