Universal Pictures is close to signing Christopher Nolan to direct The Prisoner.

The film is based on the classic TV show that lasted only 17 episodes in 1967; Patrick McGoohan played a government agent who resigns, is kidnapped and placed on an isolated island known as the Village. He's given a new identity, Number Six, and interacts with an island staff trying to get him to reveal why he resigned.

Variety says Uni's plan is for Nolan to direct a modern verion of The Prisoner after he completes The Dark Knight, the Batman sequel that begins production early next year at Warner Bros.