Filming for the third series of the smash hit drama Torchwood, created by Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies, has begun in Cardiff.
Due to transmit in 2009 on BBC One, the series – called Torchwood: Children Of Earth – sees the team embarking on a single action-packed adventure as they battle for the future of the human race against the fiercest force they have encountered.
The highly-motivated Torchwood team are John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones.
Other regular cast involved in their high-octane adventure are Kai Owen as Rhys Williams, Gwen's husband, and Tom Price as PC Andy.
Special guests in the five part series are Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who, The Thick Of It, Skins), who plays the role of Mr Frobisher – a civil servant who is hiding a terrible secret; Paul Copely (Coronation Street, The Bill) as Clem – the survivor still haunted by his past; and Liz May Brice (Bad Girls, The Bill) as Johnson – the cynical covert government agent determined to expose Torchwood.
Russell T Davies said: "The new series of Torchwood is hugely bold and promises to be bigger and better than ever – the audience is in for an amazing ride.
"This series is one big serial and the most ambitious story we've ever made, and we've got plenty of surprises in store."
Julie Gardner, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, said: "We hope to make Torchwood a gripping and surprising TV event with storylines that push our team into greater danger and sacrifice.
"Joining our main cast are some fantastic guest artists who will only add to making this unmissable TV."
The first two series of Torchwood have received global critical acclaim and the hit drama has been sold to more than 20 countries.
The second series of the BBC Wales-produced series, broadcast on BBC Two earlier this year, attracted audiences of around 3.4 million, peaking at 4.2 million for the first episode. Including viewers on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer the consolidated audience was 5.1 million.
When it launched on BBC Three in October 2006, it attracted the channel's highest viewing figures, with an audience of 2.5 million for the first episode.
Torchwood is executive produced by Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner. The producer is Peter Bennett (Doctor Who).
Torchwood is written by Russell T Davies, John Fay (Clocking Off, Coronation Street, Mobile) and James Moran (Doctor Who, Torchwood) and directed by Euros Lyn (best director in BAFTA Cymru TV Awards, Doctor Who, George Gently).
Torchwood is a BBC Wales for BBC Drama Production and was commissioned by Jane Tranter, BBC Controller of Fiction.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
News of the world says Who to be fimed in USA???
mmm take this with a grain of salt but News of the world rag says two of the Dr who specials will be filmed in the usa, yea yea yea ok. We shall see.... Article below:
DOCTOR Who is filming two of next year’s four specials in AMERICA—in a move that will boost David Tennant’s career Stateside.
The shows will be the 37-year-old star’s last, then the Doc will regenerate into another actor.
Viewers will see David arrive in the US to save the world with a BIG-NAME American female assistant.
Series chiefs are also planning a Doctor Who movie—but it is not known who will be the lead.
A BBC source said: “Doctor Who already has a huge following in the States. It’s on the Sci Fi channel and is watched by millions of people there every week.
“But two specials in America, with a US setting and a US assistant, will take it to another level. David Tennant is already gaining a huge following and this will make him really hot property.” The four specials will also be the final episodes for show boss Russell T Davies.
He is handing the reins to producer Stephen Moffat for the next series, in 2010. The insider added: “Russell is determined to go out with a bang and the specials will be explosive.
“We’re spending much more money on them than normal.”
Moffat is working on a Doctor Who film—and would love to get legendary director Steven Spielberg involved.
He said: “It would be great to see it in the cinemas—as long as it doesn’t get in the way of the show.”
DOCTOR Who is filming two of next year’s four specials in AMERICA—in a move that will boost David Tennant’s career Stateside.
The shows will be the 37-year-old star’s last, then the Doc will regenerate into another actor.
Viewers will see David arrive in the US to save the world with a BIG-NAME American female assistant.
Series chiefs are also planning a Doctor Who movie—but it is not known who will be the lead.
A BBC source said: “Doctor Who already has a huge following in the States. It’s on the Sci Fi channel and is watched by millions of people there every week.
“But two specials in America, with a US setting and a US assistant, will take it to another level. David Tennant is already gaining a huge following and this will make him really hot property.” The four specials will also be the final episodes for show boss Russell T Davies.
He is handing the reins to producer Stephen Moffat for the next series, in 2010. The insider added: “Russell is determined to go out with a bang and the specials will be explosive.
“We’re spending much more money on them than normal.”
Moffat is working on a Doctor Who film—and would love to get legendary director Steven Spielberg involved.
He said: “It would be great to see it in the cinemas—as long as it doesn’t get in the way of the show.”
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Moffat has 'No objection' to Doctor Who film
The new writer of Doctor Who says he would not object to the hit TV series being made into a film.
Steven Moffat, who has replaced Russell T Davies at the helm, said it would be good to see the show at cinemas as long as it was "great and fantastic".
But he stressed any filming should not get in the way of making the series.
He also revealed Steven Spielberg was a Doctor Who fan and that Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson had one of ex-Doctor Sylvester McCoy's outfits.
Moffat is taking over from Davies, who revived Doctor Who in 2005, as the lead writer and executive producer for the fifth series of the show - due to be shown on BBC1 in spring 2010.
Asked at the Edinburgh International Television Festival whether he would like to see the series become a film, he said: "I'm not against it. I don't think it's the most important thing for Doctor Who.
"A movie is one 90 minutes a year. So yes, so long as it never gets in the way of the show. If it gets in the way of the show that's appalling.
"It's been in the cinema, with Peter Cushing. It would be good to see it in the cinema so long as it's great and fantastic."
Doctor's age
Moffat has already written some of the most memorable Doctor Who episodes of recent times including Blink, of series three - which featured terrifying weeping angels - for which he picked up the best writer Bafta earlier this year.
He was previously known for the landmark ITV children's drama Press Gang and Coupling, the award-winning sitcom he created and wrote for BBC2.
Moffat went on to rule out introducing an older Doctor Who, if and when David Tennant leaves the show.
"It's a practical issue. This is a show that's hard for even the young, super-fit David Tennant to keep up with. It might kill someone over 60," he said.
"If the Doctor turned into an old man you would be a bit p***** off. Even William Hartnell [the first doctor] had trouble back then, he was often ill and forgot his lines.
"I think he'll always probably tend to be around 40."
Writer Davies will remain in charge of four Doctor Who specials to be shown in 2009.
Steven Moffat, who has replaced Russell T Davies at the helm, said it would be good to see the show at cinemas as long as it was "great and fantastic".
But he stressed any filming should not get in the way of making the series.
He also revealed Steven Spielberg was a Doctor Who fan and that Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson had one of ex-Doctor Sylvester McCoy's outfits.
Moffat is taking over from Davies, who revived Doctor Who in 2005, as the lead writer and executive producer for the fifth series of the show - due to be shown on BBC1 in spring 2010.
Asked at the Edinburgh International Television Festival whether he would like to see the series become a film, he said: "I'm not against it. I don't think it's the most important thing for Doctor Who.
"A movie is one 90 minutes a year. So yes, so long as it never gets in the way of the show. If it gets in the way of the show that's appalling.
"It's been in the cinema, with Peter Cushing. It would be good to see it in the cinema so long as it's great and fantastic."
Doctor's age
Moffat has already written some of the most memorable Doctor Who episodes of recent times including Blink, of series three - which featured terrifying weeping angels - for which he picked up the best writer Bafta earlier this year.
He was previously known for the landmark ITV children's drama Press Gang and Coupling, the award-winning sitcom he created and wrote for BBC2.
Moffat went on to rule out introducing an older Doctor Who, if and when David Tennant leaves the show.
"It's a practical issue. This is a show that's hard for even the young, super-fit David Tennant to keep up with. It might kill someone over 60," he said.
"If the Doctor turned into an old man you would be a bit p***** off. Even William Hartnell [the first doctor] had trouble back then, he was often ill and forgot his lines.
"I think he'll always probably tend to be around 40."
Writer Davies will remain in charge of four Doctor Who specials to be shown in 2009.
Friday, August 22, 2008
10 Doctor Who companions that might have been
The fictional worlds of Doctor Who have introduced us to many a character who possess the right kind of chemistry with the venerable Time Lord yet ultimately don't get the opportunity to travel with him. Looking at each Doctor's era in turn, here are just some of the potential companions-in-waiting.
Anne Chaplette The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve
Annette Robertson played the French serving wench Anne Chaplette to whom Steven and the Doctor are particularly taken. Her death during the massacre robs them of a companion. However, when Dodo Chaplet runs into the Tardis at the end of the story, Steven is convinced she is the modern day descendant of Anne.
Samantha Briggs The Faceless Ones
Samantha Briggs is Liverpudlian and streetwise. Samantha was searching for her missing brother when she met the Doctor and Jamie. Her scenes with Jamie show a wonderful rapport and hint at what a great companion she might have made. A ballsy and refreshingly confident performance from a young Pauline Collins, who was sadly unable to commit herself to a long-term contract.
Isobel Watkins The Invasion
Sally Faulkner played photographer Isobel, the niece of Professor Watkins, who has been captured by the evil Tobias Vaughan. Like Samantha Briggs, Isobel is a feisty young woman with attitude. Ironically the Troughton era presented many a feminist role in the supporting cast yet the companions of the time (especially Victoria) were some of the most notable screamers in the series history. Despite a forthright rebuke of the Brigadier's chauvinism, Isobel is ultimately seen as merely company for Zoë whilst the Doctor and Jamie investigate Vaughan.
Dr Ruth Ingram The Time Monster
The Pertwee era saw a change in format and introduced more regular characters. As a consequence the most significant potential companions are very much supporting cast. Doctor Ruth Ingram in The Time Monster is initially working for The Master but once she and the Doctor have reversed the polarity of the neutron flow she swaps sides. She even saves the Brigadier. Wanda Moore's character was perhaps a bit too akin to Liz Shaw, the kind of scientific companion the production team were moving away from at the time.
Duggan City Of Death
Detective Duggan played with some panache by Tom Chadbon was a brilliant foil for the wise-headed Time Lord and Lady in this story essentially created at the eleventh hour by Douglas Adams. The boorish Duggan abilities extended to opening a bottle of wine by smashing the top off. His "punch first, ask questions later" methods made him the "Gene Hunt" of potential companions. Despite his well-timed punch at the conclusion of City Of Death Duggan's attitude and actions would inevitably lead the Doctor into far too much trouble so it was "bye bye Duggan!".
Will Chandler The Awakening
Keith Jayne was marvellous as the urchin-like 1643 throwback in Eric Pringle's The Awakening. Will Chandler was charmingly naive and understandably confused by his sudden transportation into a village obsessed by the world of sealed knot recreation. Could have been the new Jamie.
Herbert Timelash
The era of the Sixth Doctor is so short potential companions a very few and far between. In Timelash the Doctor and Peri are assisted by an enthusiastic young man named Herbert (David Chandler). The young H.G. Wells it emerges, who in turn is fascinated by the TARDIS and even gets to see the console room. The idea of H.G. Wells being a regular companion is just a bit too weird - even for Doctor Who!
Ray Delta and the Bannermen
Sara Griffiths was Ray, a Welsh girl on a motorbike from the Fifties - a part which Sophie Aldred, later cast as Ace, had also auditioned. Given her competition for the Doctor's companionship here is Bonnie Langford's Mel, it's perhaps easy to see how she and the Time Lord formed such a strong bond.
Lynda "with a y" BadWolf/Parting of the Ways
Played by former No Angels star Jo Joyner, Lynda was initially seen as a Big Brother contestant in the game show dystopia of Satellite Five. Lynda almost made Rose jealous with her devotion to the Doctor. The Daleks, sadly, had the final word on this potential companion.
Sally Sparrow Blink
Carey Mulligan's performance as Sally Sparrow in Blink is mesmerising. As the main protagonist, she really makes the episode work and somehow the feeling she may return isn't completely out of the realms of possibility. A creation from the pen of soon-to-be show runner Steven Moffat, there is a great deal of anticipation that the Doctor and Sally Sparrow may eventually team up. Moffat is on record saying Carey Mulligan is "one to watch" though his recent pronouncement that his Doctor Who will see fewer returning characters suggests her future may not lie with the Doctor...
Anne Chaplette The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve
Annette Robertson played the French serving wench Anne Chaplette to whom Steven and the Doctor are particularly taken. Her death during the massacre robs them of a companion. However, when Dodo Chaplet runs into the Tardis at the end of the story, Steven is convinced she is the modern day descendant of Anne.
Samantha Briggs The Faceless Ones
Samantha Briggs is Liverpudlian and streetwise. Samantha was searching for her missing brother when she met the Doctor and Jamie. Her scenes with Jamie show a wonderful rapport and hint at what a great companion she might have made. A ballsy and refreshingly confident performance from a young Pauline Collins, who was sadly unable to commit herself to a long-term contract.
Isobel Watkins The Invasion
Sally Faulkner played photographer Isobel, the niece of Professor Watkins, who has been captured by the evil Tobias Vaughan. Like Samantha Briggs, Isobel is a feisty young woman with attitude. Ironically the Troughton era presented many a feminist role in the supporting cast yet the companions of the time (especially Victoria) were some of the most notable screamers in the series history. Despite a forthright rebuke of the Brigadier's chauvinism, Isobel is ultimately seen as merely company for Zoë whilst the Doctor and Jamie investigate Vaughan.
Dr Ruth Ingram The Time Monster
The Pertwee era saw a change in format and introduced more regular characters. As a consequence the most significant potential companions are very much supporting cast. Doctor Ruth Ingram in The Time Monster is initially working for The Master but once she and the Doctor have reversed the polarity of the neutron flow she swaps sides. She even saves the Brigadier. Wanda Moore's character was perhaps a bit too akin to Liz Shaw, the kind of scientific companion the production team were moving away from at the time.
Duggan City Of Death
Detective Duggan played with some panache by Tom Chadbon was a brilliant foil for the wise-headed Time Lord and Lady in this story essentially created at the eleventh hour by Douglas Adams. The boorish Duggan abilities extended to opening a bottle of wine by smashing the top off. His "punch first, ask questions later" methods made him the "Gene Hunt" of potential companions. Despite his well-timed punch at the conclusion of City Of Death Duggan's attitude and actions would inevitably lead the Doctor into far too much trouble so it was "bye bye Duggan!".
Will Chandler The Awakening
Keith Jayne was marvellous as the urchin-like 1643 throwback in Eric Pringle's The Awakening. Will Chandler was charmingly naive and understandably confused by his sudden transportation into a village obsessed by the world of sealed knot recreation. Could have been the new Jamie.
Herbert Timelash
The era of the Sixth Doctor is so short potential companions a very few and far between. In Timelash the Doctor and Peri are assisted by an enthusiastic young man named Herbert (David Chandler). The young H.G. Wells it emerges, who in turn is fascinated by the TARDIS and even gets to see the console room. The idea of H.G. Wells being a regular companion is just a bit too weird - even for Doctor Who!
Ray Delta and the Bannermen
Sara Griffiths was Ray, a Welsh girl on a motorbike from the Fifties - a part which Sophie Aldred, later cast as Ace, had also auditioned. Given her competition for the Doctor's companionship here is Bonnie Langford's Mel, it's perhaps easy to see how she and the Time Lord formed such a strong bond.
Lynda "with a y" BadWolf/Parting of the Ways
Played by former No Angels star Jo Joyner, Lynda was initially seen as a Big Brother contestant in the game show dystopia of Satellite Five. Lynda almost made Rose jealous with her devotion to the Doctor. The Daleks, sadly, had the final word on this potential companion.
Sally Sparrow Blink
Carey Mulligan's performance as Sally Sparrow in Blink is mesmerising. As the main protagonist, she really makes the episode work and somehow the feeling she may return isn't completely out of the realms of possibility. A creation from the pen of soon-to-be show runner Steven Moffat, there is a great deal of anticipation that the Doctor and Sally Sparrow may eventually team up. Moffat is on record saying Carey Mulligan is "one to watch" though his recent pronouncement that his Doctor Who will see fewer returning characters suggests her future may not lie with the Doctor...
Fan makes Batman/Who connection
The beauties below were made by a fan and done quite well. I wish i could see this version of Dark Knight returns. Click HERE to view more of his work.
Batman 3 Poster - Riddler by ~joshwmc on deviantART
Batman 3 Poster - Catwoman by ~joshwmc on deviantART
Batman 3 Poster - Harley Quinn by ~joshwmc on deviantART
Batman 3 Poster - Riddler by ~joshwmc on deviantART
Batman 3 Poster - Catwoman by ~joshwmc on deviantART
Batman 3 Poster - Harley Quinn by ~joshwmc on deviantART
Io9 has torchwood pics and news
Filming of Torchwood's shortened season three started up, with actor Paul Copley (Coronation Street) joining the cast. So far, there are just a few photos of Eve Myles wearing her usual outfit. But fans report they've seen Noel Clark (Mickey) on set with John Barrowman. There's also a scene where Rhys steals this guy's laptop, while Gwen keeps him distracted. There was a lot of filming at the Coal Exchange, a gorgeous old abandoned building. [Blogtor Who and Wales Online and Doctor Who Forum]
Click HERE for the pics and article.
Click HERE for the pics and article.
The Journal Of The Most Normal Things
The Journal Of The Most Normal Things is a LJ by the clone of the Doctor living with Rose. It is pretty funny to read and a bit sad at times.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Who fans drive Tennant out? For shame!!!
This is the stuff that will make David not want to be associated with the Doctor or any of the fans.
David Tennant walked out of a performance of Catherine Tate's new play after Doctor Who fans started causing disruption, according to a report.Tate, who played The Doctor's companion Donna Noble in the most recent series, is currently appearing in Under The Blue Sky in London's West End.Tennant showed his support for his former co-star by turning up for a performance this week, but was reportedly horrified when Who obsessives began singing the show's theme and waving sonic screwdrivers."Fans had heard he was going to watch former Doctor Who star Catherine, so they turned up in force, complete with props," a source told the Daily Star. "He was very charming and friendly with them during the interval, but he was rightly disgusted when they disrupted her performance by singing the show's music and waving their sonic screwdrivers."Catherine is a pro, so she ignored them. But David knew the only way to stop them was by getting up and leaving."Tennant is currently appearing in the lead role of a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet.
David Tennant walked out of a performance of Catherine Tate's new play after Doctor Who fans started causing disruption, according to a report.Tate, who played The Doctor's companion Donna Noble in the most recent series, is currently appearing in Under The Blue Sky in London's West End.Tennant showed his support for his former co-star by turning up for a performance this week, but was reportedly horrified when Who obsessives began singing the show's theme and waving sonic screwdrivers."Fans had heard he was going to watch former Doctor Who star Catherine, so they turned up in force, complete with props," a source told the Daily Star. "He was very charming and friendly with them during the interval, but he was rightly disgusted when they disrupted her performance by singing the show's music and waving their sonic screwdrivers."Catherine is a pro, so she ignored them. But David knew the only way to stop them was by getting up and leaving."Tennant is currently appearing in the lead role of a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Torchwood Lost Souls Premieres 10 September on Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 has scheduled the Torchwood radio episode Lost Souls for Wednesday 10 September at 2:15PM BST (9:15AM EDT, 6:15AM PDT). This 45-minute radio episode features the cast of Torchwood shortly after the events of the Series 2 finale "Exit Wounds".Lost Souls will air as part of the day-long coverage of CERN's (European Organization for Nuclear Research) experiment re-creating the aftermath of the Big Bang.
Afternoon Play: Torchwood: Lost Souls2.15pm, Wednesday 10 September"Somewhere out there in that chaos of darkness and light, of science and protons, of gods and stars and death... somewhere there's an answer."The Torchwood Institute was founded by Queen Victoria in 1879 to protect the British Empire against the threat of alien invasion. By 2008, all that remains of the organisation is a small team based in Cardiff. And now, following the tragic deaths of two of their colleagues, the remaining three – Captain Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones – have to protect the human race against another unknown force from the darkness. Martha Jones, ex-time traveller and now working as a doctor for a UN task force, has been called to CERN – the world's largest particle physics laboratory in Geneva – where they're about to activate the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The LHC is a particle accelerator which has been built deep underground in a 27km tunnel under Switzerland and France. Once activated, the collider will fire beams of protons together, re-creating conditions a billionth of a second after the Big Bang – and potentially allowing the human race a greater insight into what the universe is made of. But so much could go wrong – it could open a gateway to a parallel dimension, or create a black hole – and now voices from the past are calling out to people and scientists have started to disappear...Where have the missing scientists gone? What is the secret of the glowing man? What is lurking in the underground tunnel? And do the dead ever really stay dead? Torchwood is a spin-off from the award-winning BBC Wales TV production Torchwood. Written by Joseph Lidster, it stars John Barrowman, Freema Agyeman, Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, Lucy Montgomery (of Tittybangbang) and Stephen Critchlow.
Afternoon Play: Torchwood: Lost Souls2.15pm, Wednesday 10 September"Somewhere out there in that chaos of darkness and light, of science and protons, of gods and stars and death... somewhere there's an answer."The Torchwood Institute was founded by Queen Victoria in 1879 to protect the British Empire against the threat of alien invasion. By 2008, all that remains of the organisation is a small team based in Cardiff. And now, following the tragic deaths of two of their colleagues, the remaining three – Captain Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones – have to protect the human race against another unknown force from the darkness. Martha Jones, ex-time traveller and now working as a doctor for a UN task force, has been called to CERN – the world's largest particle physics laboratory in Geneva – where they're about to activate the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The LHC is a particle accelerator which has been built deep underground in a 27km tunnel under Switzerland and France. Once activated, the collider will fire beams of protons together, re-creating conditions a billionth of a second after the Big Bang – and potentially allowing the human race a greater insight into what the universe is made of. But so much could go wrong – it could open a gateway to a parallel dimension, or create a black hole – and now voices from the past are calling out to people and scientists have started to disappear...Where have the missing scientists gone? What is the secret of the glowing man? What is lurking in the underground tunnel? And do the dead ever really stay dead? Torchwood is a spin-off from the award-winning BBC Wales TV production Torchwood. Written by Joseph Lidster, it stars John Barrowman, Freema Agyeman, Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, Lucy Montgomery (of Tittybangbang) and Stephen Critchlow.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
What's the future for Sci Fi (and BBC's) Time Lord 'Doctor Who'?
The show's incoming head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat has high hopes for Season 5, but is David Tennant returning? The answer is in a black hole.
Like a grandparent's birthday, the Sci Fi Channel's fourth season finale for "Doctor Who" reeled back in its children.Characters from the cult hit show's two BBC spinoffs, "Torchwood" and "The Sarah Jane Adventures," pitched in to help the Doctor (well, two-and-a-half Doctors, really! Long story!) save the whole universe from certain doom."It created a tremendous buzz when it was shown in Britain," said Steven Moffat, the show's incoming head writer and executive producer who was in Southern California for Comic-Con last week. He credited predecessor Russell T. Davies for the big dramatic splash."That was Russell saying, 'What would happen if I press every button at once?' " said Moffat, who came to town with Julie Gardner, the BBC's controller of drama commissioning and an outgoing executive producer of "Doctor Who" as well.In the age of networks becoming brand-builders, it was also a wily marketing opportunity."It's a massive brand, that's what it is," Moffat added. "No use pretending -- it's not art house, it's not even authored, in a way. It's a big massive brand, a BBC brand, the most important show."But "Doctor Who" will not shoot new episodes for a year and won't return to the BBC until 2010. For the Sci Fi Channel, the scheduling blip raises the possibility it may not seek to reacquire the show. There's always been a perceived gap between how the BBC and Sci Fi program the show -- intended in Britain for families. "The interesting question is where to place it for that family audience," Gardner said. "It does moderately well for the Sci Fi Channel but it transmits for a 9 p.m. slot, which it isn't written or made for."But Sci Fi officials still want a look at the next season of "Doctor Who.""Sure, we'll be interested -- definitely interested," said Thomas Vitale, Sci Fi's senior vice president for programming and original movies, who would not comment on what the network paid for the series. "You know what, we're pleased with the way it's been performing for us."Another lingering question is if David Tennant, who plays the title character, will be returning for Season 5. Gardner confirmed that Tennant has made and given his decision to the BBC. She added that she was not privy to it.What of Tennant's plans? "Don't waste your time with the question," Moffat said.
Like a grandparent's birthday, the Sci Fi Channel's fourth season finale for "Doctor Who" reeled back in its children.Characters from the cult hit show's two BBC spinoffs, "Torchwood" and "The Sarah Jane Adventures," pitched in to help the Doctor (well, two-and-a-half Doctors, really! Long story!) save the whole universe from certain doom."It created a tremendous buzz when it was shown in Britain," said Steven Moffat, the show's incoming head writer and executive producer who was in Southern California for Comic-Con last week. He credited predecessor Russell T. Davies for the big dramatic splash."That was Russell saying, 'What would happen if I press every button at once?' " said Moffat, who came to town with Julie Gardner, the BBC's controller of drama commissioning and an outgoing executive producer of "Doctor Who" as well.In the age of networks becoming brand-builders, it was also a wily marketing opportunity."It's a massive brand, that's what it is," Moffat added. "No use pretending -- it's not art house, it's not even authored, in a way. It's a big massive brand, a BBC brand, the most important show."But "Doctor Who" will not shoot new episodes for a year and won't return to the BBC until 2010. For the Sci Fi Channel, the scheduling blip raises the possibility it may not seek to reacquire the show. There's always been a perceived gap between how the BBC and Sci Fi program the show -- intended in Britain for families. "The interesting question is where to place it for that family audience," Gardner said. "It does moderately well for the Sci Fi Channel but it transmits for a 9 p.m. slot, which it isn't written or made for."But Sci Fi officials still want a look at the next season of "Doctor Who.""Sure, we'll be interested -- definitely interested," said Thomas Vitale, Sci Fi's senior vice president for programming and original movies, who would not comment on what the network paid for the series. "You know what, we're pleased with the way it's been performing for us."Another lingering question is if David Tennant, who plays the title character, will be returning for Season 5. Gardner confirmed that Tennant has made and given his decision to the BBC. She added that she was not privy to it.What of Tennant's plans? "Don't waste your time with the question," Moffat said.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
