Paul McGann To Return To The TARDIS? The Eighth Doctor Opens Up

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  14 March  2014.


Whovians, we may not have seen the last of the Eighth Doctor. In an interview with Yahoo, Paul McGann said he would love to return to Doctor Who.

“If the same thing were to happen again and Moffat were to say ‘Would you come back and do it and I’ll write it?’ Why wouldn’t I want to do it? If it’s going to be that quality, why wouldn’t you want to do it?”

McGann had often been overlooked for his turn as the Eighth Doctor. The actor only appeared in the role once, in 1996’s Doctor Who TV film, which failed at the time to launch a new series of the show. All of that changed, however, when McGann donned his Time Lord clothes in The Night of the Doctor, a short that led up to the 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor. That epic mini-episode reminded or clued Whovians in to McGann’s brilliant Doctor and left us wanting more.

As for whether we’ll get “more,” McGann says, “There’s always all kinds of rumors. Doctor Who is like a rumor mill, isn’t it? 'Yea, McGann is gonna do this, Matt is gonna do that, there’s going to be a spin-off, blah blah blah.'” He brushes these off, since it’s showrunner Steven Moffat who decides what direction the show takes. “And of course, now you’ve got a new Doctor in Peter Capaldi – I think it’s only fair that he gets a decent run on his own without any distractions so he gets his feet under the table.”

I must say though, McGann only fuels those rumors when he posts pictures of his Eighth Doctor self in the Eleventh Doctor’s TARDIS.

Doctor Who returns with Capaldi at the TARDIS controls later this year.

A Surprise Visit From the Doctor: Capaldi Appears in Costume

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  25 February  2014.

Decked out in his Twelfth Doctor costume, Peter Capaldi appeared at the BBC Worldwide Showcase in Liverpool on Monday. Or should we say, The Doctor made a surprise appearance.

With his dark blue, red-lined Crombie coat, dark blue trousers and waistcoat, white shirt and Doc Martens boots, Capaldi looked much more like his Time Lord alter ego than himself. The delighted audience certainly thought so, as the newest Doctor took the stage. This is the first time Capaldi has been seen in the costume since the BBC released an official picture of the outfit in January. At the time the actor remarked on the clothes saying, “Simple, stark, and back to basics. No frills, no scarf, no messing, just 100 per cent Rebel Time Lord.”

Following the event on Monday, Capaldi spoke briefly about the upcoming series 8. “I’ve always been a fan of the show and I love that it’s now a global success,” he said. “I’m excited, and slightly daunted, about how far the new series is going to travel.”

Doctor Who returns later this year.

David Morrisey Cast In New BBC One Series Called The Driver

Originally published on PopWrapped.  12 January 2014.

The Governor lives on in a taxicab. Actor David Morrisey has been cast in the BBC One serial, The Driver, where he plays an ordinary man trapped in terrible circumstances.

Most recently seen as the sadistic antagonist on AMC’s The Walking Dead, Morrisey’s newest role is as Vince McKee. A family man who works as a taxi driver, McKee feels responsible for a mysterious family incident. His search for redemption leads to agreeing to drive for a criminal gang.

Rounding out Vince’s family are Sacha Parkinson, who will play his daughter Katie, and Claudie Blakeley playing his wife, Ros. Also starring the three-part serial, are Ian Hart, Colm Meaney, Shaun Dingwall and Lee Ross. In addition the lead role, Morrisey will also serve as executive director on the project.

“The Driver is a passion project for me and I’m proud of the way it is both a character drama and a thriller,” writer David Brocklehurst said on Digital Spy. “As with all my work there is a strong emotional core and it explores ordinary lives pushed into extraordinary situations.”

The Driver begins filming in and around Manchester this week and will air on BBC One later in 2014.

A Luther Film Is In The Works Confirms Idris Elba

Originally published on PopWrapped.  5 January 2014.

Rumors of a film based on the hit BBC show Luther have been flittering around the Internet since the show was in its first season. On the heels of completing the third (and perhaps final) season, series star Idris Elba has confirmed that the film is a go.

Speaking to Kate Garraway on ITV’s Lorraine, Elba said the movie is “definitely on the cards.” Noting that the show started out with only four episodes which led to an international following, the star said he and series creator Neil Cross are looking forward to continuing Luther on the big screen.

“I’m speaking to him as we speak,” Elba said, “and we’re trying to pull it together. It’s an ambitious project because it’s a television show but we suspect that it’s going to be as successful on TV and on film as well.”

Plot details for the movie are a bit murky as of now. Cross seems to indicate that it may pick up where the series left off: Luther departing with Ruth Wilson’s Alice. Cross hints at this direction for the film, saying, “I don’t think Alice and Luther’s story is over.”

However, Digital Spy earlier reported that the Luther film would be a prequel to the TV series, allowing Cross to bring back several popular supporting characters. Among these are Justin Ripley (Warren Brown), Luther’s wife Zoe (Indira Varma) and DCI Ian Reed (Steve Mackintosh). This report is mirrored by IndieWire, who quotes Cross as saying he’s finished the script, plans to start production in 2014 and that “the final scene in the film is the first of the initial TV series.”

Really what this boils down to for fans is: Will Alice be in the film or not? With nothing specific from Cross, Elba or anyone else to go on, we’ll all have to wait and see.

Martin Freeman Almost Missed Out On Being Our Dr. Watson

Originally published on PopWrapped.  27 December 2013.

With the highly anticipated return of BBC’s Sherlock coming in January, the idea of anyone besides Martin Freeman playing Dr. John Watson to Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes seems laughable. But the star of The Hobbit, who has been the perfect partner for the consulting detective, nearly missed out on the role.

During his audition, Freeman was reportedly “grumpy” according to series co-creator Mark Gatiss. The actor had a good reason: his wallet had been stolen on his way to the audition. Without knowing this though, Gatiss and the Sherlock creative team thought Freeman wasn’t interested in the role of Dr. Watson. When Freeman learned this via his agent, he was quick to correct the error.

“And I said, ‘Oh… I am really interested. Please call them and let them know that I am interested.’ I wasn’t being blasé about it at all. I just wasn’t on my best day.”

Thankfully the actor got a second chance and was even paired with Cumberbatch to read for the part again.

“It instantly worked, it seemed to me,” Freeman said about working with Cumberbatch. “I thought he was a fantastic actor and there was something about our rhythms, similarities and differences that meant that it just happened.”

Sherlock returns to BBC One on New Year’s Day at 9 p.m. Freeman and Cumberbatch are also both currently starring in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, which is in theaters now.

Peter Jackson To Direct Doctor Who Down Under?

Originally published on PopWrapped.  10 December 2013.

Whovians, maybe it’s about time that our beloved Doctor Who got The Lord of the Rings treatment. Director Peter Jackson is reportedly in “serious” talks to direct an episode of the beloved and wildly popular British show.

“I would be very happy to,” Jackson said on Digital Spy. “I’d love to try my hand at television, because I’ve never had the discipline of having to shoot for those impossibly tiny schedules. I think I could do it okay now.”

The Oscar-winner is a die-hard fan of the show and hopes to bring it to his native New Zealand for an episode. This would certainly work for Doctor Who executive producer Caroline Skinner, who said previously, “Of course at some point we’d love to bring Doctor Who down under.” She then quickly added that this wouldn’t be possible until at least a year after the 50th anniversary episode because the majority of series seven has already been filmed.

About Jackson, Skinner specifically said, “I’m absolutely sure that we couldn’t afford him but, you know, we can always negotiate. His enthusiasm is just fantastic of course.”

It sounds like The Hobbit director is more than willing to negotiate. Screen Rant reports that Jackson even told showrunner Steven Moffat that he’d do it for free! Plus, Jackson has a story idea in mind. “I did suggest that they did a New Zealand story – something to do with the [rugby union] All Blacks versus the Daleks. There’s a good story in there, although obviously the All Blacks would have to win!” he joked.

While we wait to hear if these serious talks turn into a seriously awesome reality, Jackson will be busy withThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, which premieres this Friday, December 13.

David Tennant and Matt Smith To Appear On Graham Norton Ahead Of The Day Of The Doctor

Originally published on PopWrapped.  22 November 2013.

Tonight David Tennant and Matt Smith will appear together on Graham Norton to promote (as if they need to) the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Episode, “The Day of the Doctor.” The two Time Lords spoke about their camaraderie during the episode’s filming as well as comparing the size of their screwdrivers. 

“His is bigger than mine,” Tennant said as reported by Digital Spy. “It has a bit that comes out of the end and lights up.” The much loved Tenth Doctor also touched on the strange expectation many people seemed to have that he and Smith would fight on the set. “It could have been weird,” he said, “but it ended up being good fun.”

For his part, Smith joked that he showed his predecessor a certain amount of deference when on the set. “There was a bit of that, particularly in my TARDIS. I asked David if he would like to fly it. You want to be gracious,” Smith said.

Graham Norton airs tonight on BBC One at 10:35 p.m.

BBC America Releases Three New Stills From An Adventure In Space And Time

Originally published on PopWrapped.  23 October 2013.

If you thought River Song was the biggest tease in all of space and time, think again. As we get closer to the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special, BBC America continues to work Whovians into an excited frenzy with snippets of information on their favorite Time Lord. The latest take are these three new pictures from the Doctor Who biopic, An Adventure in Space and Time.

Written by Doctor Who and Sherlock co-writer, Mark Gatiss, the drama reveals the origins of the longest running sci-fi series in history. See above in full make-up and costume, David Bradley, best known fromGame of Thrones and Harry Potter, portrays the First Doctor, William Hartnell.

Next we get a great look at the original Doctor Who set. Bradley is shown with Jemma Powell and Jaime Glover who portray the first companions to the Doctor. Powell plays Jacqueline Hill (companion Barbara Knight) and Glover plays William Russell (companion Ian Chesterson).

Lastly, we get a fascinating picture of the Doctor and his granddaughter, Susan cowering before a Dalek. Playing the First Doctor’s beloved granddaughter, Susan, is Claudia Grant.

Set to show in November as part of the pre-50th Anniversary line up, An Adventure in Space and Time will also be included on the Day of the Doctor blu-ray and DVD.

Steven Moffat Casts Doubt On Peter Capaldi Being The 12th Doctor With Regeneration Comments

Originally published on PopWrapped.  13 October 2013.

Peter Capaldi might not be the 12th Doctor after all. Whovians have been issued a challenge byshowrunner Steven Moffat who is claiming we have all miscounted the Doctor’s regenerations.

“I think you should go back to your DVDs and count correctly this time,” Moffat said. “There’s something you’ve all missed.”

But in typical Moffat fashion he was mum on any details. It sounds like he’s referring to one of two things: either the Doctor has used more regenerations than we all thought or the Time Lord was granted a new regeneration cycle similar to the Master (read about that here). Either would be important news because Moffat also confirmed that the Doctor “can only regenerate 12 times.”

Really the problem comes with defining the process of “regeneration.” Usually this means the Doctor changes his whole being and we get a new actor stepping into the TARDIS. But if we defined the term more technically, perhaps David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor used up a regeneration in The Stolen Earth/Journey’s End after being shot by a Dalek. That again, would make Capaldi coming in as the Thirteenth Doctor.

This all gets very complicated when we throw in John Hurt’s dark Doctor. Could he be counted as a regeneration? If so, that would make Peter Capaldi’s upcoming Doctor the last at number 13 instead of number 12. Or if John Hurt does indeed fall between the Eighth Doctor and the Ninth Doctor, maybe this was when a new regeneration cycle was granted somehow.

Whatever the case, Fifth Doctor Peter Davidson stated earlier this month that he believes Moffat has a plan in place to avoid the 12-regeneration limit.

“I know people are worried about it, but I think there will be a way around that rule,” Davison said. “I know that Steven has put in the groundwork already in an episode so that there can be more.”

This really results in more questions than answers but it does give us Whovians hope that our favorite mad man in a box will be sticking around for many regenerations to come.

David Tennant Opens Up About Working With Matt Smith

Originally published on PopWrapped.tumblr.com.  19 August 2013.

It would have been dreadful for Whovians around the world if the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor had not gotten along during the all-important and sure-to-be awesome 50^th Anniversary episode. But never fear. David Tennant says he and Matt Smith are like brothers to each other.

"I suppose you’d expect me to say we’re new best friends and I love him like a brother. But that is sort of how it was," said Tennant.

In a previous interview, Smith had expressed the same feelings, saying, “I think Ten and Eleven actually like each other. David and I do in real life as well, and our Doctors are quite collaborative.”

A perennial fan favorite, Tennant handed over the TARDIS to Smith in 2010 but has returned for the Doctor Who 50^th Anniversary special, airing in November.

Peter Capaldi is the Twelfth Doctor

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  5 August 2013.

During an agonizingly drawn out live announcement Sunday, it was finally revealed that the Twelfth Doctor is Scottish actor Peter Capaldi. He will step into the TARDIS this Christmas when current Doctor, Matt Smith, exits the show.

“Being asked to play The Doctor is an amazing privilege,” Calpaldi said. “Like The Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and delight. I can’t wait to get started.”

Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer says, “It’s an incendiary combination: one of the most talented actors of his generation is about to play the best part on television. Peter Capaldi is in the TARDIS!”

A lifelong Doctor Who fan, Capaldi appeared in the fourth season episode “The Fires of Pompeii” and had a recurring role in Torchwood: Children of Earth. He is perhaps best know for his role as Malcolm Tucker in the BBC comedy, The Thick Of It. He recently starred in World War Z and will be seen as Cardinal Richelieu in the BBC AMERICA and BBC One drama series The Musketeers, which will launch in early 2014.

Matt Smith Leaving 'Doctor Who' In Christmas Special 2013

Originally published on TheFlickcast.com.  2 June 2013.

The end of Eleven is coming this year. In an official release, the BBC has announced that Matt Smith will be leaving Doctor Who in this year’s Christmas special.

In a statement released by the BBC, Smith says:

"Doctor Who has been the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke, and that largely is down to the cast, crew and fans of the show.  I'm incredibly grateful to all the cast and crew who work tirelessly every day, to realize all the elements of the show and deliver Doctor Who to the audience.  Many of them have become good friends and I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last four years.

Having Steven Moffat as showrunner write such varied, funny, mind-bending and brilliant scripts has been one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges of my career.  It's been a privilege and a treat to work with Steven, he's a good friend and will continue to shape a brilliant world for the Doctor.

The fans of Doctor Who around the world are unlike any other; they dress up, shout louder, know more about the history of the show (and speculate more about the future of the show) in a way that I've never seen before, your dedication is truly remarkable.  Thank you so very much for supporting my incarnation of  the Time Lord, number Eleven, who I might add is not done yet, I'm back for the 50th anniversary and the Christmas special!

It's been an honor to play this part, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors, and helm the TARDIS for a spell with 'the ginger, the nose and the impossible one'. But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go and Trenzalore calls. Thank you guys.  Matt."