Lost on the Rock
TELEVISION Sam Neill was thrilled to explore the myths of Alcatraz in his new series, writes Chuck Barney.
SOMETIMES, JUST a single word can stir one’s imagination. When, for example, producer J J Abrams was first pitched the idea for a TV drama pegged to Alcatraz, he was instantly intrigued.
‘‘The mere mention of it is so provocative and compelling,’’ he says, referring to San Francisco’s legendary island prison that once housed such notorious criminals as Al Capone and George ‘‘Machine Gun’’ Kelly. ‘‘It just made me immediately lean forward. I couldn’t believe that there never had been a show called Alcatraz.’’
Until now. On December 5, TV One will, indeed, premiere a fantastical crime series from Abrams called Alcatraz. But while the show may be breaking primetime ground, it’s certainly not the first time Hollywood has been drawn to the little island in the heart of San Francisco Bay.
Movies such as The Rock and Escape From Alcatraz have been inspired by it. Various TV shows through the years have referenced it. Moreover, numerous books and even songs have been written about it.
The latest addition to this popcultural lore is a show that reflects Abrams’ penchant for over-thetop concepts and Byzantine mysteries. Alcatraz is about a small team of investigators struggling to discover why some of the prison’s former inmates are now wreaking havoc in San Francisco, 50 years after they vanished without a trace. The cast is led by Sam Neill, Sarah Jones and Jorge Garcia, who made a name for himself in Abrams’ biggest TV hit, Lost.
Neill, who first visited Alcatraz 15 years ago, believes they’ve hit upon the perfect setting.
‘‘Just the name puts a shiver down my spine,’’ he says. ‘‘Imagine the cruelty of a prison where you sit behind bars looking at something as lovely as San Francisco and San Francisco is looking at you. That’s such an incredibly harsh reality.’’
Jack Bender, a director and producer on the TV series, recalls, as a kid, thinking of Alcatraz as a