It was recently announced that Dr. Who would finally make his way to the big screen in what appears to be the start of a movie franchise. Director David Yates, who was behind the last four Harry Potter movies would helm the project. Now, it doesn’t have a release date just yet as Yates told Variety they are now looking for writers and it may take “two to three years” to get it just right. He and Jane Tranter, head of L.A.-based BBC Worldwide Productions are making sure they appeal to long-time Whovians, as well American audiences not that familiar. However, the “British sensibility” won’t be lost, “but having said that,” notes Yates, “Steve Kloves wrote the Potter films and captured that British sensibility perfectly, so we are looking at American writers too.”
No word yet if current Doctor, Matt Smith, will be involved to some capacity, but since this is being seen as a big budget reboot exclusively for the big screen, I doubt it. Especially Yates made it clear that his movie adaptation would not follow on from the current TV series, but would take a completely fresh approach to the material. I’m sure a plethora of Who fans feel confused and concerned about this, but it gives non-Who fans a chance to jump on without worrying about 40 years of continuity. Then again, one of the characters greatest attributes is his continuity and how he draws from his previous lives, but if you can have Smallville and Superman Returns at the same time…
So if they are starting over again, and having an older Doctor, can we just sign Alan Rickman or Ian Holm up already?
November 15th, 2011 at 9:35 am
I don’t see the need for this, given that the show essentially did a soft reboot when it came back. The vast weight of past lives was reintroduced slowly enough that anyone who never saw the show before should have been able to catch on. (Most people I know who watch it were new to the character.)
I also don’t see the need for this while the show is going strong. Is there really a market for a distinct movie version of the Doctor at this point?
And given that I thought Yates is a director with little sense of humor, I can’t say I would have much hope this would be good anyway. I am not an HP fan, but his murky, overwrought work on the fifth and sixth films led me to stay home entirely for the last two.
November 15th, 2011 at 9:44 am
Already debunked by BBC. Day late dollar short and all that.
November 15th, 2011 at 10:18 am
@Don: Not debunking. Yates said there’s no script or anything else. But when BBC America states that “A Doctor Who feature film remains in development w/ BBC Worldwide Productions in LA. As of yet no script, cast or production crew in place.” That pretty much seals it, yes?
November 15th, 2011 at 10:19 am
@Don: It just sounds like Yates’ deal isn’t in concrete just yet.
November 15th, 2011 at 11:49 am
Seals it? BBC more than said Yates was talking out of turn.
November 15th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
A while ago there was talk of doing a Buffy The Vampire Slayer movie sans Whedon. That went over horribly with the fans. I expect this to tank even more so.
Don’t slap your existing fan base in the face. Come up with a new idea if you can’t work with what the people already love.