EXTERMINATE
November 14, 2011 12:38 PM Subscribe
Russell T. Davies and then Steven Moffat have done their own transformations, which were fantastic, but we have to put that aside and start from scratch. Variety reports Harry Potter director David Yates wants to reboot Doctor Who. Topless Robot reacts.
As long as they get Peter Cushing and Bernard Cribbens back everything will be fine.
posted by dng at 12:41 PM on November 14, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by dng at 12:41 PM on November 14, 2011 [8 favorites]
When I read something on metafilter, inevitably my eyes will pick up certain words first and then afterwards I'll go back and read the full sentence properly. The reason I clicked on this link was because of three little words: DOCTOR WHO + TOPLOSS.
Awesome news, but not what I was expecting.
posted by Fizz at 12:41 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Awesome news, but not what I was expecting.
posted by Fizz at 12:41 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I am completely for this reboot simply because I want to see exactly how much wailing and gnashing of teeth the LiveJournal servers can withstand before becoming sentient just in order to commit suicide.
posted by griphus at 12:42 PM on November 14, 2011 [48 favorites]
posted by griphus at 12:42 PM on November 14, 2011 [48 favorites]
It won't necessarily be any good, but there's potential here. I'm not really sure that Doctor Who plays well in a feature film format, but it wouldn't be impossible to pull off.
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:43 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:43 PM on November 14, 2011
"It needs quite a radical transformation to take it into the bigger arena."
Bigger arena? The series has covered all of time and space and existence. How can it get better? A galactic engine powering a doomsday device? I mean come on... Wait a minute... OOOooo. I'm sending that into Moffat!
posted by CarlRossi at 12:44 PM on November 14, 2011
Bigger arena? The series has covered all of time and space and existence. How can it get better? A galactic engine powering a doomsday device? I mean come on... Wait a minute... OOOooo. I'm sending that into Moffat!
posted by CarlRossi at 12:44 PM on November 14, 2011
I was wondering why my twitter feed suddenly got angry about what I presumed was the Fox made-for-TV movie. I'd just figured it had just hit netflix instant or something.
posted by dinty_moore at 12:44 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by dinty_moore at 12:44 PM on November 14, 2011
Though this makes more sense. I mean, some of these people stopped playing skyrim to rail about this movie's possible existence. That's some dedication right there.
posted by dinty_moore at 12:46 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 12:46 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
Er... isn't "rebooting" kind of already built into this series? Usually ignoring a fair lot of continuity as well.
posted by LogicalDash at 12:46 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by LogicalDash at 12:46 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
"There are two previous films"
Are there not 3? Isn't there a really awful one from the 80s?
Why reboot? Why not have it tie into the franchise a la x-files etc? Or are they just going to "Americanise" it and make it all gung-ho, and the Dr goes to Iran to kick off (back in time to kill the Ayetollah?)
posted by marienbad at 12:46 PM on November 14, 2011
Are there not 3? Isn't there a really awful one from the 80s?
Why reboot? Why not have it tie into the franchise a la x-files etc? Or are they just going to "Americanise" it and make it all gung-ho, and the Dr goes to Iran to kick off (back in time to kill the Ayetollah?)
posted by marienbad at 12:46 PM on November 14, 2011
Finally, a chance for Eric Roberts to take another stab at playing The Master.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:46 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:46 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
...Fox made-for-TV movie...
I was trying to recall the last scifi-ish made-for-TV movie Fox did and all I could think of was Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and then it hit me:
David Hasselhoff as Doctor Who.
YES.
posted by griphus at 12:47 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
I was trying to recall the last scifi-ish made-for-TV movie Fox did and all I could think of was Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and then it hit me:
David Hasselhoff as Doctor Who.
YES.
posted by griphus at 12:47 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
He'll actually be a genius human named Dr. Jonathan Who and the TARDIS is his invention. He'll travel with his granddaughter and fight the Daleks on the planet Skaro. And all in color!
posted by charred husk at 12:48 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by charred husk at 12:48 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
Reboot this. Reboot that. Come on, we need some to reboot ReBoot!
Wait, someone is actually working on that. For the love of the User...
posted by m@f at 12:49 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Wait, someone is actually working on that. For the love of the User...
posted by m@f at 12:49 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
NOT MY DOCTOR, YOU BITCH.
posted by schmod at 12:50 PM on November 14, 2011 [11 favorites]
posted by schmod at 12:50 PM on November 14, 2011 [11 favorites]
I have been having a very crappy day, and this news just made it crappier.
Dumb reboots make me angry in general. The only reason that, say, the made for TV movie from the 90s wasn't a total travesty was that it wasn't trampling all over an existing series. (Honestly, that's the only reason I wasn't frothing at the mouth at the Star Trek reboot too). Dumb Hollywood asswipes have no appreciation for doing continuity right. Not everything is a comic book and can be rebooted. The history of Doctor Who matters. Rage rage rage.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 12:50 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Dumb reboots make me angry in general. The only reason that, say, the made for TV movie from the 90s wasn't a total travesty was that it wasn't trampling all over an existing series. (Honestly, that's the only reason I wasn't frothing at the mouth at the Star Trek reboot too). Dumb Hollywood asswipes have no appreciation for doing continuity right. Not everything is a comic book and can be rebooted. The history of Doctor Who matters. Rage rage rage.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 12:50 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Er... isn't "rebooting" kind of already built into this series? Usually ignoring a fair lot of continuity as well.
Yes, but it's done in a fairly artful way that works in its own internal logic.
Also I do not want to waste a regeneration on this.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 12:52 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Yes, but it's done in a fairly artful way that works in its own internal logic.
Also I do not want to waste a regeneration on this.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 12:52 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
They could take a tip from Battlestar Galactica and turn the Brigadier into a woman.
posted by tapeguy at 12:52 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by tapeguy at 12:52 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
They could take a tip from Battlestar Galactica and turn the Brigadier into a woman.
They've already done that.
posted by dng at 12:53 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
They've already done that.
posted by dng at 12:53 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't get the fears about Americanization. The BBC itself is spearheading the film, and Yates's Potter movies were British from top to bottom.
I wonder how they'll work the movie into continuity, though. Is the upcoming movie a sign that they're going to put the TV series on hiatus a few years from now? After all, neither Smith nor Moffat are going to stick around forever.
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:54 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I wonder how they'll work the movie into continuity, though. Is the upcoming movie a sign that they're going to put the TV series on hiatus a few years from now? After all, neither Smith nor Moffat are going to stick around forever.
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:54 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't get the fears about Americanization. The BBC itself is spearheading the film, and Yates's Potter movies were British from top to bottom.
Did you watch "Torchwood: Miracle Day"? That was the BBC working with an American production company. And it was horrid.
posted by jbickers at 12:56 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
Did you watch "Torchwood: Miracle Day"? That was the BBC working with an American production company. And it was horrid.
posted by jbickers at 12:56 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
Hey guys. Remember that time they revamped Torchwood for American audiences earlier this year?
Yeah. Me neither. Good thing they scrapped that idea from the get go. However, it was pretty cool that Showtime broadcast Children of Earth a second time, and modified the ending so that no major characters died.
This is how I have chosen to remember it.
posted by schmod at 12:56 PM on November 14, 2011 [5 favorites]
Yeah. Me neither. Good thing they scrapped that idea from the get go. However, it was pretty cool that Showtime broadcast Children of Earth a second time, and modified the ending so that no major characters died.
This is how I have chosen to remember it.
posted by schmod at 12:56 PM on November 14, 2011 [5 favorites]
Fine with me, so long as Moffat isn't involved in any way.
posted by Legomancer at 12:57 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by Legomancer at 12:57 PM on November 14, 2011
I am enjoying this Twitter hashtag. Perhaps too much.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:58 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:58 PM on November 14, 2011
Doctor Who should have been left to die in the 1980s. Reviving it was pointless and redundant. The show is less of a blatant political metaphor than Star Trek, but can we all move on. please?
posted by Yakuman at 12:58 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by Yakuman at 12:58 PM on November 14, 2011
I wonder how they'll work the movie into continuity, though. Is the upcoming movie a sign that they're going to put the TV series on hiatus a few years from now? After all, neither Smith nor Moffat are going to stick around forever.
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:54 PM on November 14 [+] [!]
It sounds like it won't be in continuity:
"Yates made clear that his movie adaptation would not follow on from the current TV series, but would take a completely fresh approach to the material. "
posted by Mister Moofoo at 12:58 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:54 PM on November 14 [+] [!]
It sounds like it won't be in continuity:
"Yates made clear that his movie adaptation would not follow on from the current TV series, but would take a completely fresh approach to the material. "
posted by Mister Moofoo at 12:58 PM on November 14, 2011
Yakuman, if you don't like it, don't watch it.
posted by Phire at 1:00 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Phire at 1:00 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
I figure this has about as much a chance of being made as the Buffy reboot.
posted by kmz at 1:00 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by kmz at 1:00 PM on November 14, 2011
I must admit that the second thing I did when reading about this was pop over to Galifrey Base to watch people flip the fuck out.
posted by charred husk at 1:01 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by charred husk at 1:01 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
Personally, I think that if Doctor Who really is as much a part of British culture as Robin Hood, then tons of folks ought to get to take a whack at it.
Or do we have to wait a few hundred years for that?
posted by Mister Moofoo at 1:01 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Or do we have to wait a few hundred years for that?
posted by Mister Moofoo at 1:01 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Doctor Who should have been left to die in the 1980s. Reviving it was pointless and redundant. The show is less of a blatant political metaphor than Star Trek, but can we all move on. please?
posted by Yakuman at 3:58 PM on November 14 [+] [!]
I am a fan of Doctor Who primarily because of the 2005 reboot. This is my Doctor Who.
posted by jb at 1:01 PM on November 14, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by Yakuman at 3:58 PM on November 14 [+] [!]
I am a fan of Doctor Who primarily because of the 2005 reboot. This is my Doctor Who.
posted by jb at 1:01 PM on November 14, 2011 [10 favorites]
Doctor Who And The Incredibly Expensive River Song Removal From Existence Solution
posted by dng at 1:02 PM on November 14, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by dng at 1:02 PM on November 14, 2011 [6 favorites]
I suggest Paul F Tompkins as the Doctor. He's already got the wardrobe.
posted by grubi at 1:04 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by grubi at 1:04 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
Also, can we remove the word "reboot" from the media. It is an oft abused word. This may not be the case here but EVERYTHING in hollywood seems to be in some form of "reboot" these days.
posted by Fizz at 1:05 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by Fizz at 1:05 PM on November 14, 2011
To me, it just feels like you can't do nearly as much in a trilogy of movies as you can in a year worth of Who serials, let a lone three years of serials if the movies are also coming out one per year.
Sure, your effects budget is probably going to be higher, but how are you going to develop the (presumably) new incarnation of the doctor or the (presumably) new companion(s) for the films? I'll also miss the fun of a year's worth of clues to the final conflict of the year (particularly the RtD years)…
On the other hand, with any luck a movie format would mean that there wouldn't be the two or three real stinker episodes that seem to be inevitably part of a season of Who.
A movie could also take a possible spin-off from Who, instead of the Doctor himself. Two that come immediately to mind would be: a story with the "Doctor's Daughter" as the central character, or a story in which a TARDIS that survived the destruction of Gallifrey adopts some human or near-human travellers out of loneliness.
The second idea seems particularly promising to me: there need be no superhuman in the show, except for the personality of the TARDIS who would be restricted to its insides; the problems and their solutions would all be down to the humans.
posted by jepler at 1:06 PM on November 14, 2011
Sure, your effects budget is probably going to be higher, but how are you going to develop the (presumably) new incarnation of the doctor or the (presumably) new companion(s) for the films? I'll also miss the fun of a year's worth of clues to the final conflict of the year (particularly the RtD years)…
On the other hand, with any luck a movie format would mean that there wouldn't be the two or three real stinker episodes that seem to be inevitably part of a season of Who.
A movie could also take a possible spin-off from Who, instead of the Doctor himself. Two that come immediately to mind would be: a story with the "Doctor's Daughter" as the central character, or a story in which a TARDIS that survived the destruction of Gallifrey adopts some human or near-human travellers out of loneliness.
The second idea seems particularly promising to me: there need be no superhuman in the show, except for the personality of the TARDIS who would be restricted to its insides; the problems and their solutions would all be down to the humans.
posted by jepler at 1:06 PM on November 14, 2011
You know, I wouldn't necessarily want it to be a part of the Doctor Who canon, but I could see a fantastic reboot taking place just after the last great time war, something really gritty and grim and filled with horrors of the sort that would eventually lead to the PTSD manic-ness that was Eccleston's Doctor.
posted by quin at 1:06 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by quin at 1:06 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
"Reboot" is Hollywood-speak for "fanfic".
posted by Mister Moofoo at 1:06 PM on November 14, 2011 [11 favorites]
posted by Mister Moofoo at 1:06 PM on November 14, 2011 [11 favorites]
Did you watch "Torchwood: Miracle Day"? That was the BBC working with an American production company. And it was horrid.
Right, but they're not working with Starz on this project. The Variety article only lists BBC Worldwide so far. It remains to be seen with which company (or companies) they'll work in order to pull this off.
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:07 PM on November 14, 2011
Right, but they're not working with Starz on this project. The Variety article only lists BBC Worldwide so far. It remains to be seen with which company (or companies) they'll work in order to pull this off.
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:07 PM on November 14, 2011
Perhaps they can treat it like Japan treated the American adaptation of Godzilla. That is, by having their version beat the living crap out of our version in the next film.
posted by griphus at 1:08 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by griphus at 1:08 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
Doctor Who is better for its low(er) budget. Then they have to pay attention to, you know, story and writing and stuff.
I want to see more aliens made of bubble wrap.
Also, I abhor explosions and think that all battles should take place off-screen. On-screen is for dialogue, not loud-bangy things. Farscape: Peacekeeper Wars was just about ruined by being 3/4 battle scenes, and then no time for plot.
posted by jb at 1:10 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
I want to see more aliens made of bubble wrap.
Also, I abhor explosions and think that all battles should take place off-screen. On-screen is for dialogue, not loud-bangy things. Farscape: Peacekeeper Wars was just about ruined by being 3/4 battle scenes, and then no time for plot.
posted by jb at 1:10 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
Doctor Who And The Definite Success Plan
Starring Daniel Radcliffe as The Doctor, Heather Watson as Amy Pond, Rupert Grint as Rory Williams, Ralph Fiennes as The Master and Robert Carlyle as an ogron.
posted by dng at 1:11 PM on November 14, 2011
Starring Daniel Radcliffe as The Doctor, Heather Watson as Amy Pond, Rupert Grint as Rory Williams, Ralph Fiennes as The Master and Robert Carlyle as an ogron.
posted by dng at 1:11 PM on November 14, 2011
charred husk, I helped put those movies on DVD, and I am soooo sorry
posted by infinitewindow at 1:11 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by infinitewindow at 1:11 PM on November 14, 2011
So, it's Craig Ferguson as the doctor, then? (Spouting Ayn Rand and advocating cat-declawing to maintain the cosmic balance?)
posted by ~ at 1:11 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by ~ at 1:11 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
You know, I wouldn't necessarily want it to be a part of the Doctor Who canon, but I could see a fantastic reboot taking place just after the last great time war, something really gritty and grim and filled with horrors of the sort that would eventually lead to the PTSD manic-ness that was Eccleston's Doctor.
If they did a McGann movie set during the time war, I'd love it. Unfortunately, they want to disregard all canon and "start fresh." You know, like they do with Spiderman every few years.
because we always need yet another spidey origin story . . . right?!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:13 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
If they did a McGann movie set during the time war, I'd love it. Unfortunately, they want to disregard all canon and "start fresh." You know, like they do with Spiderman every few years.
because we always need yet another spidey origin story . . . right?!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:13 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'd love an Eighth Doctor movie about the build-up to the Time War, featuring Paul McGann in the new costume, but they'd never go that route.
My biggest problem with a Doctor Who movie is that the charm of the show comes from all the incidental, accumulated weirdness of the Doctor just roving around the universe, getting into dangerous situations. Movies are "big" in a way that Doctor Who usually isn't, except series finales.
I'd also be annoyed if Feature Who has too much exposition. Doctor Who works best when you just sort of roll with it.
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:13 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
My biggest problem with a Doctor Who movie is that the charm of the show comes from all the incidental, accumulated weirdness of the Doctor just roving around the universe, getting into dangerous situations. Movies are "big" in a way that Doctor Who usually isn't, except series finales.
I'd also be annoyed if Feature Who has too much exposition. Doctor Who works best when you just sort of roll with it.
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:13 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
Or what Sticherbeast said. Right down to the costume.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:13 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:13 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Okay, so:
Brendan Gleeson as a gun-toting, cigar-chomping Doctor with a top-hat and heavy boots, who flies around in a giant SDF-1-sized transforming robot named "TARDIS" picks up Michael Sheen and Emma Watson to fight mass-produced-by-the-millions Daleks who are all under the command of Peter Davison (!) as the Master.
Craig Ferguson plays the Brigadier.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 1:14 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
Brendan Gleeson as a gun-toting, cigar-chomping Doctor with a top-hat and heavy boots, who flies around in a giant SDF-1-sized transforming robot named "TARDIS" picks up Michael Sheen and Emma Watson to fight mass-produced-by-the-millions Daleks who are all under the command of Peter Davison (!) as the Master.
Craig Ferguson plays the Brigadier.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 1:14 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
Anything that moves the series away from SOOPER SPESHUL MESSIAH DOCTOR SUE can only be a positive in my book.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 1:14 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 1:14 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
Yates made clear that his movie adaptation would not follow on from the current TV series, but would take a completely fresh approach to the material.
Then it's not really Doctor Who, is it? Just some shit you made up.
Kill it with fire.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 1:17 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
Then it's not really Doctor Who, is it? Just some shit you made up.
Kill it with fire.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 1:17 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
How about just a 90 minute supercut of every time someone has said "Doctor!" with a sense of urgency in the entire series.
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:17 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 1:17 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
You new fans are charming. I lived through the end of the original series and the horrific interregnum, with its New Adventures, Missing Adventures, audio dramas, comic strips, fan-fiction, spinoff novels and audio dramas, FOX TV Movies, big-budget movies that never happened, and everything else swirling around, trying to fill the void (none of which did, for me.) Not only is a big-budget movie something that has been "on the horizon" for decades, wondering about its "canonicity" (in a show which, until recently, gave almost no damns whatsoever about continuity or canon) is just absurd.
posted by Legomancer at 1:18 PM on November 14, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by Legomancer at 1:18 PM on November 14, 2011 [9 favorites]
Just as an aside: I'd like more NON-companion adventures and some non-save-the-whole-bloody-universe adventures. Some of my favorite eps from teh past were when the One True Doctor (#4) would go to a place/time and have to solve a localized mystery. Everything now is Team Who! taking on the Greatest Threat This Week to All Existence Evar!
Ugh.
posted by grubi at 1:19 PM on November 14, 2011 [5 favorites]
Ugh.
posted by grubi at 1:19 PM on November 14, 2011 [5 favorites]
David Yates wants to reboot Doctor Who
No.
posted by BrotherCaine at 1:21 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
No.
posted by BrotherCaine at 1:21 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
I won't live to see it, but I want there to be as many different movies made about the Doctor as there have been about, say, King Arthur, or Sherlock Holmes.
Granted, 90% of them will be shitty, but I'll still watch 'em.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 1:22 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Granted, 90% of them will be shitty, but I'll still watch 'em.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 1:22 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
My reactions to this news have been cringing, whimpering, spluttering, raging, and now resigned sighing. I'm going to go cuddle a kitten and pretend I never read this. NEVER READ IT.
posted by lriG rorriM at 1:23 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by lriG rorriM at 1:23 PM on November 14, 2011
Not only is a big-budget movie something that has been "on the horizon" for decades, wondering about its "canonicity" (in a show which, until recently, gave almost no damns whatsoever about continuity or canon) is just absurd.
Indeed. I like this essay on the subject. Paul Cornell: Canonicity in Doctor Who.
Comics fans have the ‘shared universes’ of DC and Marvel Comics, and when something’s not part of that canon, they’re told so, in that such books are labeled ‘Elseworlds’ or ‘What Ifs’. Star Wars and Star Trek fans have official edicts about such matters from people employed to decide on them. You know, if you’re a Star Trek fan, that the animated series, in a hugely unfair way, considering some of the stuff that did get in, is definitively uncanonical. In these cases, ‘canon’ is not only about authority, but an authority exists that is interested in legislating about it.
That’s not the case in terms of Doctor Who. Nobody at the BBC has ever uttered a pronouncement about what is and isn’t canonical. (As I’m sure they’d put it, being such enthusiasts for good grammar.) Because there was never a Who product that the BBC made that got a producer’s goat enough for that to happen. And because canonicity takes some explaining to anyone raised outside of fandom (‘but… if it’s got Doctor Who on the cover… how can it not be Doctor Who?’) And because the continuity of Doctor Who was always so all over the place anyway that something in a new story not matching up with something from an earlier one was just the way things were, rather than an aberration that had to be corrected through canonical excommunication.
Not giving a toss about how it all fits together is one of Doctor Who’s oldest, proudest traditions, a strength of the series.
Although of course in one important way he is wrong. The Target Novelisations are the one true chronicles of Doctor Who and everything else is just some absurd make-believe somewhere.
posted by dng at 1:24 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
Indeed. I like this essay on the subject. Paul Cornell: Canonicity in Doctor Who.
Comics fans have the ‘shared universes’ of DC and Marvel Comics, and when something’s not part of that canon, they’re told so, in that such books are labeled ‘Elseworlds’ or ‘What Ifs’. Star Wars and Star Trek fans have official edicts about such matters from people employed to decide on them. You know, if you’re a Star Trek fan, that the animated series, in a hugely unfair way, considering some of the stuff that did get in, is definitively uncanonical. In these cases, ‘canon’ is not only about authority, but an authority exists that is interested in legislating about it.
That’s not the case in terms of Doctor Who. Nobody at the BBC has ever uttered a pronouncement about what is and isn’t canonical. (As I’m sure they’d put it, being such enthusiasts for good grammar.) Because there was never a Who product that the BBC made that got a producer’s goat enough for that to happen. And because canonicity takes some explaining to anyone raised outside of fandom (‘but… if it’s got Doctor Who on the cover… how can it not be Doctor Who?’) And because the continuity of Doctor Who was always so all over the place anyway that something in a new story not matching up with something from an earlier one was just the way things were, rather than an aberration that had to be corrected through canonical excommunication.
Not giving a toss about how it all fits together is one of Doctor Who’s oldest, proudest traditions, a strength of the series.
Although of course in one important way he is wrong. The Target Novelisations are the one true chronicles of Doctor Who and everything else is just some absurd make-believe somewhere.
posted by dng at 1:24 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
My immediate reaction upon reading this was "Not interested", close window, and deciding to think about this again in "2 to 3 years" when/if it becomes a reality.
But, of course, my brain doesn't work that way, and even though I avoid Doctor Who online fandom for my own sanity, I figured it would come up here, so my brain was allowed to wander (despite having 5 hours of meetings during my work day today)
And my second immediate reaction was "maybe this won't be a bad thing." I've always had a special place in my heart for the previous two movies -- they brought Doctor Who to a different medium in a way that was uniquely "its time" and though most fans didn't consider it Doctor Who proper, the world was still plenty big enough for both.
And to be honest, until Big Finish made the Eighth Doctor an era I cared about (and the occasional decent novel cemented that feeling), I thought of the 96 TV movie the same way. It was a story about a time traveller named the Doctor (though that wasn't even necessarily true in the Cushing movies) and it was entertaining and exciting at the time and you either took to it or you didn't.
It will probably be an unpopular opinion but I'd be totally fine with this as long as they stay true to their world and works like the movies have in the past -- as their own story in their own world. I'd hate for it to somehow try to be an "in universe reboot" a la Star Trek or clumsily tie into anything pre-existing. There are plenty of times when Doctor Who has existed in a world that is similar-but-different to the main canon of the universe in a separate popular (or not) medium -- TV Comic, the changes made to the initial Target novelizations, Big Finish's criminally underrated Unbound line -- and there's no reason why this couldn't as well. Not to shoot too big, but I see it like how Harry Potter the book series and Harry Potter the movie series are successful in their own ways.
James Bond and Sherlock Holmes work just fine as characters who don't necessarily always have to have a "coherent canon" because the character and the universe are interesting enough to tell a tale without having it to be bogged down with bullshit canon concerns and otherwise -- and the Doctor is just as able to stand on his own.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:26 PM on November 14, 2011 [6 favorites]
But, of course, my brain doesn't work that way, and even though I avoid Doctor Who online fandom for my own sanity, I figured it would come up here, so my brain was allowed to wander (despite having 5 hours of meetings during my work day today)
And my second immediate reaction was "maybe this won't be a bad thing." I've always had a special place in my heart for the previous two movies -- they brought Doctor Who to a different medium in a way that was uniquely "its time" and though most fans didn't consider it Doctor Who proper, the world was still plenty big enough for both.
And to be honest, until Big Finish made the Eighth Doctor an era I cared about (and the occasional decent novel cemented that feeling), I thought of the 96 TV movie the same way. It was a story about a time traveller named the Doctor (though that wasn't even necessarily true in the Cushing movies) and it was entertaining and exciting at the time and you either took to it or you didn't.
It will probably be an unpopular opinion but I'd be totally fine with this as long as they stay true to their world and works like the movies have in the past -- as their own story in their own world. I'd hate for it to somehow try to be an "in universe reboot" a la Star Trek or clumsily tie into anything pre-existing. There are plenty of times when Doctor Who has existed in a world that is similar-but-different to the main canon of the universe in a separate popular (or not) medium -- TV Comic, the changes made to the initial Target novelizations, Big Finish's criminally underrated Unbound line -- and there's no reason why this couldn't as well. Not to shoot too big, but I see it like how Harry Potter the book series and Harry Potter the movie series are successful in their own ways.
James Bond and Sherlock Holmes work just fine as characters who don't necessarily always have to have a "coherent canon" because the character and the universe are interesting enough to tell a tale without having it to be bogged down with bullshit canon concerns and otherwise -- and the Doctor is just as able to stand on his own.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:26 PM on November 14, 2011 [6 favorites]
I would be (almost) interested in a series of movies, each with a different actor (or actress) playing The Doctor, with no regeneration or explanation of regeneration, with the restricted scope of the 3rd and 4th Doctors. And with NO DALEKS EVER!
posted by Billiken at 1:27 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Billiken at 1:27 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Not giving a toss about how it all fits together is one of Doctor Who’s oldest, proudest traditions, a strength of the series.
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH NO
Should be "Not giving a toss about how it all fits together is one of Doctor Who’s oldest, saddest mistakes, a weakness of the series."
posted by grubi at 1:28 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH NO
Should be "Not giving a toss about how it all fits together is one of Doctor Who’s oldest, saddest mistakes, a weakness of the series."
posted by grubi at 1:28 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
There are plenty of times when Doctor Who has existed in a world that is similar-but-different to the main canon of the universe in a separate popular (or not) medium -- TV Comic, the changes made to the initial Target novelizations
Yes, but those were lame.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:31 PM on November 14, 2011
Yes, but those were lame.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:31 PM on November 14, 2011
Surely nothing Terrance Dicks ever did was ever lame.
posted by dng at 1:32 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dng at 1:32 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Mistake number one there is the assumption that DW is primarily about the doctor. DW is about the companions. Forget that at your peril.
posted by seanyboy at 1:35 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by seanyboy at 1:35 PM on November 14, 2011
DW is about the companions. Forget that at your peril.
No, you are wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
WRONG.
The companions are annoying1. And a liability at best.
BURN THEM.
1 Except Sarah Jane.
posted by grubi at 1:40 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
No, you are wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
WRONG.
The companions are annoying1. And a liability at best.
BURN THEM.
1 Except Sarah Jane.
posted by grubi at 1:40 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
See, ever since the regeneration limit got lifted, I've thought that they should have a Year of Three Doctors, maybe when Smith gets ready to move on. Just spend a whole season, or a year's worth of specials rotating between 3 or 4 actors, the kind that everyone wishes would play the Doctor, but who'd be too famous or too expensive or otherwise unfeasible to hire on for a permanent run. You could have Tilda Swinton Doctor or Chiwetal Ejiofor Doctor or Bill Nighy Doctor, and so on. Leave it up to the writers and show-runners whether they wanted to have some common thread through all the stories or just have stand alone specials or runs of 3 or 4 episodes. Depending on how firmly they wanted to canonically ground it, they could designate "official" numbers or even throw in regeneration sequences, or just say that everyone is an unspecified future Doctor (which would be my preference, but people get weird about canonical grey areas.)
Basically, I'm cool with the idea, though I'm not too thrilled about Yates. A lot of the HP films felt weirdly lifeless, which was a disservice to that series and would be a disservice to Doctor Who.
posted by kagredon at 1:42 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
Basically, I'm cool with the idea, though I'm not too thrilled about Yates. A lot of the HP films felt weirdly lifeless, which was a disservice to that series and would be a disservice to Doctor Who.
posted by kagredon at 1:42 PM on November 14, 2011 [7 favorites]
Hah, I know someone who actually may explode with anger at this news. And for that, BBC America, I salute you.
posted by ciderwoman at 1:42 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by ciderwoman at 1:42 PM on November 14, 2011
We see Davros talking to Hitler.
Davros: Hitler! It has been so long!
Hitler slaps Davros once, hard, across the cheek. Davros wakes up with a start. He is sat in his chair, wearing pajamas.
CLOSE UP on Davros’s long slender fingers forlornly lingering across his control panel.
posted by dng at 1:43 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Davros: Hitler! It has been so long!
Hitler slaps Davros once, hard, across the cheek. Davros wakes up with a start. He is sat in his chair, wearing pajamas.
CLOSE UP on Davros’s long slender fingers forlornly lingering across his control panel.
posted by dng at 1:43 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Yea, this is going to be a bust like the HHGTTG movie. Pretty much with T.Robot on this mess. I'd rather read some Who fan-fiction than the script for this disaster.
posted by Old'n'Busted at 1:46 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by Old'n'Busted at 1:46 PM on November 14, 2011
Doctor Who is better for its low(er) budget. Then they have to pay attention to, you know, story and writing and stuff.
I want to see more aliens made of bubble wrap.
If this ever gets off the ground (and that's a big IF), and the Beeb partners with a MAJOR! HOLLYWOOD! STUDIO! you can br sure as hell that it is going to be all explodey action and space battle filled big budget film. Most studios stay away from low/mid-budget films (particularly SF) because the ROI is so small. They'll take their chances with the high risk/high reward Super Mega Budget film filled with completely unnecessary to the story special effects & action sequences instead. This is done for two primary reasons: The Bigger the budget, the bigger the hype. Press coverage sells movie tickets worldwide. Secondly, by tying so much of the studio's resources up in one film, the exec who greenlighted the picture is making sue they won't get fired if it all goes wrong at the box office (the fall -out will be too large to isolate to one or two execs, so they'll opt to hang together and dare shareholders to question the wisdom & business acumen of the entire management team. The only thing shareholders love almost as much as they love quarterly dividend is management stability).
In any case, if this ever happens, I would imagine it will be a flop in the US, regardless of the quality or the budget. As popular as NuWho is in the US, it is still just a blip on the pop culture radar screen over here. If it's any good, it will do gangbuster business in the home DVD/Blu-Ray & rental market, though.
posted by KingEdRa at 1:46 PM on November 14, 2011
I want to see more aliens made of bubble wrap.
If this ever gets off the ground (and that's a big IF), and the Beeb partners with a MAJOR! HOLLYWOOD! STUDIO! you can br sure as hell that it is going to be all explodey action and space battle filled big budget film. Most studios stay away from low/mid-budget films (particularly SF) because the ROI is so small. They'll take their chances with the high risk/high reward Super Mega Budget film filled with completely unnecessary to the story special effects & action sequences instead. This is done for two primary reasons: The Bigger the budget, the bigger the hype. Press coverage sells movie tickets worldwide. Secondly, by tying so much of the studio's resources up in one film, the exec who greenlighted the picture is making sue they won't get fired if it all goes wrong at the box office (the fall -out will be too large to isolate to one or two execs, so they'll opt to hang together and dare shareholders to question the wisdom & business acumen of the entire management team. The only thing shareholders love almost as much as they love quarterly dividend is management stability).
In any case, if this ever happens, I would imagine it will be a flop in the US, regardless of the quality or the budget. As popular as NuWho is in the US, it is still just a blip on the pop culture radar screen over here. If it's any good, it will do gangbuster business in the home DVD/Blu-Ray & rental market, though.
posted by KingEdRa at 1:46 PM on November 14, 2011
I've been expecting this for some years. The math is quite simple:
Doctor Who has a canonically limited number of regenerations.
Doctor Who goes through regenerations every few years.
Ergo, Doctor Who will soon reach the end of his regenerations.
But...
Doctor Who makes a lot of money for the trademark owners.
Ergo either:
(A) Doctor Who will have to be rebooted, or
(B) Doctor Who's canon will be forcefully and bluntly rewritten.
Looks like at least (A) is being proposed, and probably (B) is implied.
Stupid bastards.
posted by IAmBroom at 1:48 PM on November 14, 2011
Doctor Who has a canonically limited number of regenerations.
Doctor Who goes through regenerations every few years.
Ergo, Doctor Who will soon reach the end of his regenerations.
But...
Doctor Who makes a lot of money for the trademark owners.
Ergo either:
(A) Doctor Who will have to be rebooted, or
(B) Doctor Who's canon will be forcefully and bluntly rewritten.
Looks like at least (A) is being proposed, and probably (B) is implied.
Stupid bastards.
posted by IAmBroom at 1:48 PM on November 14, 2011
or Chiwetal Ejiofor Doctor
Jesus, that's an awesome idea. But better one:
Idris Elba as the Doctor. And Chiwetal Ejiofor as the Master.
posted by grubi at 1:49 PM on November 14, 2011 [14 favorites]
Jesus, that's an awesome idea. But better one:
Idris Elba as the Doctor. And Chiwetal Ejiofor as the Master.
posted by grubi at 1:49 PM on November 14, 2011 [14 favorites]
(A) Doctor Who will have to be rebooted, or
(B) Doctor Who's canon will be forcefully and bluntly rewritten.
(C) the "canonical" limited number of regenerations will simply be ignored and life (and the show) will go on
posted by Legomancer at 1:50 PM on November 14, 2011
(B) Doctor Who's canon will be forcefully and bluntly rewritten.
(C) the "canonical" limited number of regenerations will simply be ignored and life (and the show) will go on
posted by Legomancer at 1:50 PM on November 14, 2011
I look forward to this to see how Hollywood's dark mirror, the porn industry, would spoof it. Although it has been done before...
posted by The River Ivel at 1:50 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by The River Ivel at 1:50 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
More likely, because Doctor Who rarely misses a chance for technobabble, (D) The writers will BS their way around the limits, like by saying it was an artificial rule enforced by Time Lords, and life will go on.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:52 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:52 PM on November 14, 2011
One, Jane Tranter is connected to this, and she helped foster the return of Doctor Who to TV, helping convince RTD to come back.
Two, this will depend heavily on who they get as writers. Could be anyone, even someone who's written for Doctor Who before.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:53 PM on November 14, 2011
Two, this will depend heavily on who they get as writers. Could be anyone, even someone who's written for Doctor Who before.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:53 PM on November 14, 2011
Doctor What is this I don't even
posted by charlie don't surf at 1:54 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by charlie don't surf at 1:54 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
It'll probably be another bloody origin story- Doctor Who: Undergrad.
posted by Mooski at 1:56 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by Mooski at 1:56 PM on November 14, 2011
Idris Elba as the Doctor. And Chiwetal Ejiofor as the Master.
Although, Mr Ejiofor would be better as the Doctor because he's better at being mischievous.
posted by grubi at 1:57 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
Although, Mr Ejiofor would be better as the Doctor because he's better at being mischievous.
posted by grubi at 1:57 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
The writers will BS their way around the limits, like by saying it was an artificial rule enforced by Time Lords, and life will go on.
It always seemed to be that anyway, as once they offered The Master some new regenerations for some reason or another.
posted by dng at 1:59 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
It always seemed to be that anyway, as once they offered The Master some new regenerations for some reason or another.
posted by dng at 1:59 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
seanyboy: "Mistake number one there is the assumption that DW is primarily about the doctor. DW is about the companions. Forget that at your peril."
Amen. I think that's is why I like Matt Smith's Doctor so much - as much scenery as he chews, he still somehow feels more like the facilitator of adventure than the one we're supposed to identify with. The ninth and tenth Doctors, they were heroes. You identified with them. Not eleven. I think that is why having Amy AND Rory is so important to the show.
Like back in the very first series, when the should have called the show "Ian".
posted by charred husk at 2:00 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Amen. I think that's is why I like Matt Smith's Doctor so much - as much scenery as he chews, he still somehow feels more like the facilitator of adventure than the one we're supposed to identify with. The ninth and tenth Doctors, they were heroes. You identified with them. Not eleven. I think that is why having Amy AND Rory is so important to the show.
Like back in the very first series, when the should have called the show "Ian".
posted by charred husk at 2:00 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Definitely Ejiofor over Elba. Elba is too normal looking.
posted by seanyboy at 2:00 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by seanyboy at 2:00 PM on November 14, 2011
I'd like Idris Elba as the Doctor, because he'd be cold. Like Christoper Lee or Peter Cushing can be. Just really distant and alien. Less wacky.
In fact, you could set up a companion-centric thing where there's this mischievous, wacky Timelord and this cold, stark one, and the companions assume that Mister Fun is the Doctor, for some reason, and it's really the Master, and the scary, weird guy was the Doctor all along.
Or something.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:04 PM on November 14, 2011 [8 favorites]
In fact, you could set up a companion-centric thing where there's this mischievous, wacky Timelord and this cold, stark one, and the companions assume that Mister Fun is the Doctor, for some reason, and it's really the Master, and the scary, weird guy was the Doctor all along.
Or something.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:04 PM on November 14, 2011 [8 favorites]
Elba as the Master. He's got menace down like a champ. And that's a nice easy way to remember what each character needs: mischief vs menace.
posted by grubi at 2:06 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by grubi at 2:06 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
In this universe, Harry Potter director David Yates wants to shoot a Doctor Who movie.
In another universe, Doctor Who character Captain Yates wants to shoot a Harry Potter director.
posted by charlie don't surf at 2:09 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
In another universe, Doctor Who character Captain Yates wants to shoot a Harry Potter director.
posted by charlie don't surf at 2:09 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Cornell: Not giving a toss about how it all fits together is one of Doctor Who’s oldest, proudest traditions, a strength of the series.grubi: "Should be 'Not giving a toss about how it all fits together is one of Doctor Who’s oldest, saddest mistakes, a weakness of the series.'"
There's a subtle difference between "not giving a toss about how it all fits together", and deliberately dropping a huge steaming shit all over history while shouting "LOOK EVERYBODY! I'M SHITTING ALL OVER INTERNAL CONSISTENCY AND CANON!".
Nu-Who often sails somewhere between the two, to its detriment. On the plus side, Moffat seems to be toning that down a bit - this year, he even managed to tone down the overuse of the Magic Reset Button that was RTD's trademark!
But what would I know - I'm a curmudgeonly old bugger who also wonders why Hollywood feels it necessary to keep making the same 3 <insert comic book hero> movies over and over again…
posted by Pinback at 2:15 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I wish some forward-thinking person who lives in Southern California would take a sweatsock and fill it with shit and use that to beat the living hell out of anyone in the film industry who uses the word reboot.
posted by Mcable at 2:16 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Mcable at 2:16 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
charlie don't surf: " In another universe, Doctor Who character Captain Yates wants to shoot a Harry Potter director."
But if he does, I suppose they'll just let him off to go to some Buddhist retreat -- because "treason, eh?" if you're a member of UNIT.
You know how I said earlier that I wanted it to be a "unique universe" non canon movie and that it might not be that bad.
Thinking about it after looking at dng's link re: The Five Doctors, I've actually decided that they should use all the technology they have at their disposal -- like Avatar X 10000 -- and computer generate the fuck out of the thing and have all 11 Doctors (using audio from previously existing episodes and any other performances or events that Hartnell, Troughton and Pertwee ever recorded) -- and make it an origin story and the Time War and have the Doctors fight Daleks and both universe versions of the Cybermen (through in the Genesis of the Mondas Cybermen, based on "Spare Parts") and tall old school Sontarans and short new school Sontarans and 100,000 Raston Warrior Robots too, jumping around and shooting arrows out of their arms all over the place. In 3D.
That's about how I felt when I first saw The Five Doctors as a kid, no matter what I can "critically" think of it now -- in fact, I can't critically think of it at all. I love it. And I hate to think that pre-teen me is all the way dead.
Kid me kept hoping upon against hope that g-d Doctor Who Meets Scratchman would somehow see the light of day, despite learning about it years after even Tom Baker considered it So, despite how I "hope" it will be done in the real world, there's the other part of me that "hopes" it will be batshit bonkers and awesome to boot.
Either way, there's a large part of me that thinks more Doctor Who is always better than less, and many people who were fans from 1996-2005 have to feel the same, right? There can never be enough. Just in case.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:19 PM on November 14, 2011 [5 favorites]
But if he does, I suppose they'll just let him off to go to some Buddhist retreat -- because "treason, eh?" if you're a member of UNIT.
You know how I said earlier that I wanted it to be a "unique universe" non canon movie and that it might not be that bad.
Thinking about it after looking at dng's link re: The Five Doctors, I've actually decided that they should use all the technology they have at their disposal -- like Avatar X 10000 -- and computer generate the fuck out of the thing and have all 11 Doctors (using audio from previously existing episodes and any other performances or events that Hartnell, Troughton and Pertwee ever recorded) -- and make it an origin story and the Time War and have the Doctors fight Daleks and both universe versions of the Cybermen (through in the Genesis of the Mondas Cybermen, based on "Spare Parts") and tall old school Sontarans and short new school Sontarans and 100,000 Raston Warrior Robots too, jumping around and shooting arrows out of their arms all over the place. In 3D.
That's about how I felt when I first saw The Five Doctors as a kid, no matter what I can "critically" think of it now -- in fact, I can't critically think of it at all. I love it. And I hate to think that pre-teen me is all the way dead.
Kid me kept hoping upon against hope that g-d Doctor Who Meets Scratchman would somehow see the light of day, despite learning about it years after even Tom Baker considered it So, despite how I "hope" it will be done in the real world, there's the other part of me that "hopes" it will be batshit bonkers and awesome to boot.
Either way, there's a large part of me that thinks more Doctor Who is always better than less, and many people who were fans from 1996-2005 have to feel the same, right? There can never be enough. Just in case.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:19 PM on November 14, 2011 [5 favorites]
And the first two series of the show should be called "Barbara" BTW. "Barbara and Ian" if I'm feeling generous.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:21 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:21 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Mister Moofoo's idea sounds neat to me.
The Master has hatched some kind of diabolical plan. At the end of Ep. 1, only the Doctor can stop him. The Doctor steps into the control room where The Master is about to flick the switch that will unleash enough Handwavium to destroy cause and effect forever (or whatever). At the last moment, he turns and sonics the control room shut with a reverberating stock sound effect. After Ep. 2 plays the recap, we next see the Companions struggling to reopen the door. When they finally get the door open, the two figures inside are both in the midst of regeneration…
posted by jepler at 2:22 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
The Master has hatched some kind of diabolical plan. At the end of Ep. 1, only the Doctor can stop him. The Doctor steps into the control room where The Master is about to flick the switch that will unleash enough Handwavium to destroy cause and effect forever (or whatever). At the last moment, he turns and sonics the control room shut with a reverberating stock sound effect. After Ep. 2 plays the recap, we next see the Companions struggling to reopen the door. When they finally get the door open, the two figures inside are both in the midst of regeneration…
posted by jepler at 2:22 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
Of course we all know that Rowan Atkinson was the best Doctor. (Link goes to Youtube.)
posted by LastOfHisKind at 2:24 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by LastOfHisKind at 2:24 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
posted by rikschell at 2:27 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by rikschell at 2:27 PM on November 14, 2011
So.......maybe?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:29 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:29 PM on November 14, 2011
4chan, of all places, had a fairly entertaining take on this idea: The Master regenerates into the Doctor's previous appearance (Tennant, in that thread's hypothetical) and causes mayhem.
(as near as I can tell, that link is SFW, but it is chanarchive, so use discretion)
posted by kagredon at 2:30 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
(as near as I can tell, that link is SFW, but it is chanarchive, so use discretion)
posted by kagredon at 2:30 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Variety reports Harry Potter director David Yates wants to reboot Doctor Who.
A director of, as Kevin Murphy put it, "event coverage" movies wants to reboot one of the most historical television shows ever and he is not hounded through the street while being pelted with refuse for even suggesting such a thing.
This is why we cannot have nice things.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 2:35 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
A director of, as Kevin Murphy put it, "event coverage" movies wants to reboot one of the most historical television shows ever and he is not hounded through the street while being pelted with refuse for even suggesting such a thing.
This is why we cannot have nice things.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 2:35 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
Twitter updates via TheMarySue:
EDIT: The official Doctor Who Magazine has since tweeted, “To those hearing Doctor Who movie rumours, it’s just the same rumours which have been going round for years. Nothing’s currently happening!” In addition, Senior Brand Executive for BBC Wales Edward Russell tweeted, “Off Twitter for a few hours and the Doctor Who world explodes. There’s always talk of a movie. Perhaps? Maybe one day. But not right now!”posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:35 PM on November 14, 2011
So what’s the deal exactly? Yates doesn’t seem the time to mouth off about a project as big as this without it being true and he didn’t say this was just a dream of his. Could it be happening through channels the Doctor Who folks themselves aren’t even aware of? It might make sense if they didn’t want the current showrunners getting upset. We will see…
EDIT #2: The BBC America twitter account has now added fuel to the fire by tweeting, “DW film remains in development w/ BBCWorldwide Prod. in LA. No script, cast or production crew in place.”
Man, it's been a long and difficult Monday, and I did not need to hear about the possibility of this movie on top of everything else.
I was raised watching the old series, and I was SO EXCITED at the tender age of 9 when I heard there would be a NEW MOVIE! And so, the family gathered around the television to watch. And I was sad. So sad. That meant that when 2005 rolled around, I was really, really nervous, having already been burned by the movie. But the new series is fabulous! What we should learn from this is that Doctor Who really ought to remain in the hands of the BBC, please.
But this one won't necessarily be bad! There is always hope, probably.
posted by pemberkins at 2:37 PM on November 14, 2011
I was raised watching the old series, and I was SO EXCITED at the tender age of 9 when I heard there would be a NEW MOVIE! And so, the family gathered around the television to watch. And I was sad. So sad. That meant that when 2005 rolled around, I was really, really nervous, having already been burned by the movie. But the new series is fabulous! What we should learn from this is that Doctor Who really ought to remain in the hands of the BBC, please.
But this one won't necessarily be bad! There is always hope, probably.
posted by pemberkins at 2:37 PM on November 14, 2011
Finally! A chance to make up for what should have happened with the last regeneration.
posted by brundlefly at 2:39 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by brundlefly at 2:39 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
It's hard being an aging nerd.
What are they going to "reboot" next? Battlestar Galactica?
What?
Oh. Yeah? Oh.
It's hard being an aging nerd.
posted by infinitywaltz at 2:40 PM on November 14, 2011
What are they going to "reboot" next? Battlestar Galactica?
What?
Oh. Yeah? Oh.
It's hard being an aging nerd.
posted by infinitywaltz at 2:40 PM on November 14, 2011
It could be cool if they started from scratch with a genesis of the doctor scenario - just think of the possibilities of Time Lord School!
posted by ebear at 2:41 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by ebear at 2:41 PM on November 14, 2011
EDIT #2: The BBC America twitter account has now added fuel to the fire by tweeting, “DW film remains in development w/ BBCWorldwide Prod. in LA. No script, cast or production crew in place.”
"In development" might possibly be the most meaningless phrase in entertainment.
posted by phearlez at 2:55 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
"In development" might possibly be the most meaningless phrase in entertainment.
posted by phearlez at 2:55 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not a Dr. Who fan, but Yates was demonstrably a poor choice for more than one HP movie.
posted by sneebler at 3:15 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by sneebler at 3:15 PM on November 14, 2011
You know what, if they call it Inspector Spacetime: the Movie, they can do whatever the hell they want.
posted by maqsarian at 3:18 PM on November 14, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by maqsarian at 3:18 PM on November 14, 2011 [9 favorites]
It could be cool if they started from scratch with a genesis of the doctor scenario - just think of the possibilities of Time Lord School!
While I agree that Gallifrey can be awesome and cool (see: The Deadly Assassin), I'm not sure I want a definitive answer for the Origin of the Doctor. Particularly not if I have to put up with raging Theta/Koschei fangirls having fits about having their fic jossed.
For the most part I'll believe this movie is getting made when I see it--and hope I don't see it.
posted by immlass at 3:21 PM on November 14, 2011
While I agree that Gallifrey can be awesome and cool (see: The Deadly Assassin), I'm not sure I want a definitive answer for the Origin of the Doctor. Particularly not if I have to put up with raging Theta/Koschei fangirls having fits about having their fic jossed.
For the most part I'll believe this movie is getting made when I see it--and hope I don't see it.
posted by immlass at 3:21 PM on November 14, 2011
What are they going to "reboot" next? Battlestar Galactica?
I know you thought you were joking, but...
posted by Ian A.T. at 3:24 PM on November 14, 2011
I know you thought you were joking, but...
posted by Ian A.T. at 3:24 PM on November 14, 2011
You know what would be awesome? A lush, trippy 2-D Doctor Who cartoon. Make it a hard PG or a light PG-13.
And put Frobisher in it.
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:43 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
And put Frobisher in it.
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:43 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Sticherbeast, I think you've taught me what love is.
posted by nonreflectiveobject at 3:53 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by nonreflectiveobject at 3:53 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
I was well into 'NO. AND STOP IT' territory when the one acceptable outcome of this travesty occurred to me:
SWINTON.
Also, the HOLLYWOOD RUINS EVERYTHING tag is missing.
posted by Space Kitty at 4:03 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
SWINTON.
Also, the HOLLYWOOD RUINS EVERYTHING tag is missing.
posted by Space Kitty at 4:03 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sticherbeast, did you see the fanmade Doctor Who anime thing? It's pretty sweet.
(If you want to pretend that the anime girl companion is Frobisher, knock yourself out.)
posted by maqsarian at 4:05 PM on November 14, 2011
(If you want to pretend that the anime girl companion is Frobisher, knock yourself out.)
posted by maqsarian at 4:05 PM on November 14, 2011
Ooh! SWINTON Doctor and Idris Elba as the Master. Or vice versa, even. I could get behind that. Making the good guy and the bad guy equally creepy/terrifying would be fun.
posted by orrnyereg at 4:08 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by orrnyereg at 4:08 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
Predictions:
- The origin story will be fully explicated, and will somehow tie in to whomever the antagonist is in the movie, because hey, nobody likes open-ended stories.
- The Doctor will have some sort of steamy love affair with some incredibly hot lady, and they'll probably end up kissing and groping each other, because hey, we have to make sure everyone knows this guy is totally not gay.
- The Doctor will at some point use some kind of Gallifreyan kung fu to take out an enemy, because hey, solving problems with your mind when you could use your fists isn't badass.
Donald Glover as Doctor Who would make this interesting.
posted by drezdn at 4:40 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by drezdn at 4:40 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ritchie, you forgot the parkour-expert Cybermen.
posted by brundlefly at 4:45 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by brundlefly at 4:45 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
So, are there any circumstances under which a Doctor Who big screen adventure would be a good thing?
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:55 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:55 PM on November 14, 2011
Donald Glover as Doctor Who would make this interesting.
Anyone other than just another white dude as Doctor Who would be insanely fucking interesting.
posted by elizardbits at 4:57 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
Anyone other than just another white dude as Doctor Who would be insanely fucking interesting.
posted by elizardbits at 4:57 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
Ritchie: "The Doctor will at some point use some kind of Gallifreyan kung fu to take out an enemy"
I'll have you know it's called venusian karate…
posted by Pinback at 5:03 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'll have you know it's called venusian karate…
posted by Pinback at 5:03 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
Donald Glover as Doctor Who would make this interesting.
I'd pay to see that. Even (especially) if he was doing his bad British accent from Mystery Team or Inspector Spacetime.
That would be fucking awesome.
posted by quin at 5:09 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'd pay to see that. Even (especially) if he was doing his bad British accent from Mystery Team or Inspector Spacetime.
That would be fucking awesome.
posted by quin at 5:09 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, now that Community's been cancelled(okay, technically mothballed), maybe they'll have time to work on a full-length Inspector Spacetime pilot.
posted by schmod at 5:17 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by schmod at 5:17 PM on November 14, 2011
now that Community's been cancelled
brb killing spree
posted by elizardbits at 5:27 PM on November 14, 2011 [8 favorites]
brb killing spree
posted by elizardbits at 5:27 PM on November 14, 2011 [8 favorites]
You know, I'd rather have a Community movie than a Doctor Who movie.
posted by Sticherbeast at 5:41 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Sticherbeast at 5:41 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I kind of checked out of the Whoniverse after Peter Davidson dont judge me. Has there been an anti-hero Doctor? One who's sick of this shit? One who bangs on but doesn't quite break the fourth wall? One who just KNOWS that someone is fucking with him and his companions and is fed up? I don't mean smarmy fed-up or ironic fed-up I mean actually fed up like Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon? Because an actually fed up Doctor with a manic-depressive companion would be really great on the big screen. Who would I cast that with. You know I might cast that with Brad Pitt as the Doctor because Andrew McCarthy is just a TAD too smarmy. With of course Zooey Deschanel as the companion. I would ask Peter Mayhew to walk on as the pre-regeneration doctor, what the hell. Let's get Kate Beckinsale to play the Master, of course, in floor length black, and just for fun we get Sean Astin as the voice of K9. Now we need a plot. Let's roll the dice: "robots" "subvert" "ancient greece" PERFECT. Lots of scanty clothing, risk of a time change, cheap sets GREENLIGHT THAT BITCH. I'm done here, don't forget my residuals.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:56 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:56 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
4chan, of all places, had a fairly entertaining take on this idea: The Master regenerates into the Doctor's previous appearance (Tennant, in that thread's hypothetical) and causes mayhem.
I believe that Tom Baker floated the idea, when NuWho first started, of appearing as the Master's latest regeneration. That would have been pretty sweet.
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:01 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I believe that Tom Baker floated the idea, when NuWho first started, of appearing as the Master's latest regeneration. That would have been pretty sweet.
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:01 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
now that Community's been cancelled
hhhhaaauuAAAAAAUUUUGGHHHH
At a time when Who fans are complaining that there's too much Doctor Who.
O, perspective.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 6:17 PM on November 14, 2011
hhhhaaauuAAAAAAUUUUGGHHHH
At a time when Who fans are complaining that there's too much Doctor Who.
O, perspective.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 6:17 PM on November 14, 2011
Concerning Eleven's role as non-hero, it's clear that Steven Moffat, unable to magically un-MarySue the Doctor, has decided to put it to use by turning it into a massive failing. People are starting to call him out on it, and the universe actively wants to kill him for it. Good move, in my opinion.
If the reboot film/s cause the end of the TV series, David Yates is going to have things thrown through his windows, and may even die. That's not even a threat. That's a prediction.
posted by BiggerJ at 6:22 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
If the reboot film/s cause the end of the TV series, David Yates is going to have things thrown through his windows, and may even die. That's not even a threat. That's a prediction.
posted by BiggerJ at 6:22 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
On further thought, this might actually be it for the present series. The next series will begin later in 2012 and run through to 2013, the series' 50th anniversary. Steven Moffat has stated that something special will be done to celebrate the anniversary. And the most recent storyline has supplied the perfect concept.
It all ends when he says his name.
posted by BiggerJ at 6:48 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
It all ends when he says his name.
posted by BiggerJ at 6:48 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Further further thoughts: hopefully, the reboot will be in-universe. 'Scratching the session', in geeky-ass terms.
posted by BiggerJ at 6:58 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by BiggerJ at 6:58 PM on November 14, 2011
So, are there any circumstances under which a Doctor Who big screen adventure would be a good thing?
I can't imagine it being any worse than the current utterly horrible reboot which is even worse than the Fox movie. Both RTD and Moffat have gone out their way to make it silly big already. So it could be equally terrible, but not possibly worse.
Steven Moffat has stated that something special will be done to celebrate the anniversary.
Phantom Menace special I imagine.
posted by juiceCake at 7:00 PM on November 14, 2011
I can't imagine it being any worse than the current utterly horrible reboot which is even worse than the Fox movie. Both RTD and Moffat have gone out their way to make it silly big already. So it could be equally terrible, but not possibly worse.
Steven Moffat has stated that something special will be done to celebrate the anniversary.
Phantom Menace special I imagine.
posted by juiceCake at 7:00 PM on November 14, 2011
Why I'm an atheist: there is no god. Proof of this: "Whitney" won't be cancelled, but "Community" is on the verge of being cancelled.
posted by grubi at 7:08 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by grubi at 7:08 PM on November 14, 2011
So, are there any circumstances under which a Doctor Who big screen adventure would be a good thing?
There might be, but honestly, after seeing both the Fox reboot and the fan reaction to the Starz Torchwood (which I didn't watch, having bailed out of Torchwood after S1), I'm not convinced that anything involving Hollywood is going to work well for most fans.
On the other hand, if they're trying to mainstream Who further, I'm not sure people like me are the audience. If they want to make TARDIS Transformers, as long as they don't refer back to it in the series, I don't have to watch it and/or care. They made movies with Peter Cushing as the Doctor in the 60s and they weren't in continuity and stuff was said in them that was later ignored. A new movie might be just the same.
posted by immlass at 7:09 PM on November 14, 2011
There might be, but honestly, after seeing both the Fox reboot and the fan reaction to the Starz Torchwood (which I didn't watch, having bailed out of Torchwood after S1), I'm not convinced that anything involving Hollywood is going to work well for most fans.
On the other hand, if they're trying to mainstream Who further, I'm not sure people like me are the audience. If they want to make TARDIS Transformers, as long as they don't refer back to it in the series, I don't have to watch it and/or care. They made movies with Peter Cushing as the Doctor in the 60s and they weren't in continuity and stuff was said in them that was later ignored. A new movie might be just the same.
posted by immlass at 7:09 PM on November 14, 2011
After someone mentioned the possibility of a SWINTON Who, I stopped paying attention to the rest of the thread. Though she is more of a Master type to me. I don't think she could smile without looking like she's about to tear your liver out with her teeth.
(Which is what makes her so awesome).
Personally, if you want to maintain the goofy charm of the Doctor in British female form, why not Dawn French?
posted by emjaybee at 7:22 PM on November 14, 2011
(Which is what makes her so awesome).
Personally, if you want to maintain the goofy charm of the Doctor in British female form, why not Dawn French?
posted by emjaybee at 7:22 PM on November 14, 2011
Why I'm an atheist: there is no god. Proof of this: "Whitney" won't be cancelled, but "Community" is on the verge of being cancelled.
posted by grubi at 7:08 PM on November 14 [+] [!]
YOU TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT THIS INSTANT!
posted by cerulgalactus at 9:02 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by grubi at 7:08 PM on November 14 [+] [!]
YOU TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT THIS INSTANT!
posted by cerulgalactus at 9:02 PM on November 14, 2011
Has there been an anti-hero Doctor?
YMMV but Sylvester McCoy's Doctor was quite often an utter bastard. Manipulative and cruel to enemies and companion alike.
posted by Proofs and Refutations at 9:05 PM on November 14, 2011
YMMV but Sylvester McCoy's Doctor was quite often an utter bastard. Manipulative and cruel to enemies and companion alike.
posted by Proofs and Refutations at 9:05 PM on November 14, 2011
YOU TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT THIS INSTANT!
Sorry. I can't.
posted by grubi at 9:28 PM on November 14, 2011
Sorry. I can't.
posted by grubi at 9:28 PM on November 14, 2011
Colin Bsker was the anti-hero Who. Didn't really work out well for the franchise.
posted by seanyboy at 11:48 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by seanyboy at 11:48 PM on November 14, 2011
SCENE:
A boy lives UNDER THE STAIRS. His parents ARE DEAD. He is ABUSED. He is so horribly put upon that all he can do is stare, adopt a facial expression that looks a little like constipation, and make gormless utterances.
ENTER A LARGE HAIRY MAN
'Yerr a Toim Lord, Hoover Whatter!'
'Erm, what?'
'I, um?'
_454 pages later_
'Uh, erm?'
'It be all roight, Whatter! It all werrked out in t'end!'
'Erm, huh?'
'That's roight - anuva TOIM LORD dunn in that thar DIFFERENT TOIM LORD WITH A NOT PARTICULARLY CLEVER ANAGRAM FOR A NAME with a SONIC THINGAMEE.'
*blank stare*
'YERR A HERO, HOOVER WHATTER!'
'Erm, but?'
CHEERING
posted by obiwanwasabi at 12:39 AM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
A boy lives UNDER THE STAIRS. His parents ARE DEAD. He is ABUSED. He is so horribly put upon that all he can do is stare, adopt a facial expression that looks a little like constipation, and make gormless utterances.
ENTER A LARGE HAIRY MAN
'Yerr a Toim Lord, Hoover Whatter!'
'Erm, what?'
'I, um?'
_454 pages later_
'Uh, erm?'
'It be all roight, Whatter! It all werrked out in t'end!'
'Erm, huh?'
'That's roight - anuva TOIM LORD dunn in that thar DIFFERENT TOIM LORD WITH A NOT PARTICULARLY CLEVER ANAGRAM FOR A NAME with a SONIC THINGAMEE.'
*blank stare*
'YERR A HERO, HOOVER WHATTER!'
'Erm, but?'
CHEERING
posted by obiwanwasabi at 12:39 AM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Tick, tock, goes the clock
At grassy Trenzalore
Tick, tock, a man doth speak
And then it ticks no more
Tick, tock, goes something
On which no eyes are locked
Then we shall all find there's
Always another clock
posted by BiggerJ at 1:23 AM on November 15, 2011
At grassy Trenzalore
Tick, tock, a man doth speak
And then it ticks no more
Tick, tock, goes something
On which no eyes are locked
Then we shall all find there's
Always another clock
posted by BiggerJ at 1:23 AM on November 15, 2011
I'm not sure how a film could work at this stage if the idea is to re-re-boot the concept. But I'd be intrigued at the possibilities.
I do like the current nu-Who. It's an amazing effort to make Who contemporary and popular after the 'Panto Years' (which, bizarrely, some fans still pine for).
I like Torchwood, despite it being all over the place at times (Miracle Day as a concept was brilliant, but the series was 5 episodes too long).
So there's scope there to do something else but I suspect it would take either a very good writer - or a particularly mad one - to do it justice.
posted by panboi at 1:53 AM on November 15, 2011
I do like the current nu-Who. It's an amazing effort to make Who contemporary and popular after the 'Panto Years' (which, bizarrely, some fans still pine for).
I like Torchwood, despite it being all over the place at times (Miracle Day as a concept was brilliant, but the series was 5 episodes too long).
So there's scope there to do something else but I suspect it would take either a very good writer - or a particularly mad one - to do it justice.
posted by panboi at 1:53 AM on November 15, 2011
I'm not bothered about this myself, despite being a Who fan from birth (or, well, whenever the VCR got cheap enough for my dad to cover a wall in tapes of Who and Star Trek). I am, however, vastly amused by the movie bloke stating that Who needs a "radical transformation" to bring it to film, the most amazing medium ever invented.
Uh, no. Your medium can't even adapt a novel without trimming it almost to nothing. You can tell a great, compact story in 90 minutes, sure, but a "bigger" one? No. Film is the worst modern storytelling medium for anything even remotely complex; it can't even do Harry Fucking Potter without sanding it down.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 4:02 AM on November 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Uh, no. Your medium can't even adapt a novel without trimming it almost to nothing. You can tell a great, compact story in 90 minutes, sure, but a "bigger" one? No. Film is the worst modern storytelling medium for anything even remotely complex; it can't even do Harry Fucking Potter without sanding it down.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 4:02 AM on November 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Stanley Kubrick once remarked that movies were much more like short stories than novels. He was right. This is why great novels almost never make for great movies. It's also why sequels and remakes are so good for movies - there's much less to introduce each time.
It's also why Doctor Who, as a serial, is probably not the best movie franchise idea. After twenty minutes of setup, you're left with an hour or two of story, with no opportunity for bringbacks to earlier episodes. The appeal of being to tell any story with Doctor Who is wasted on the movie format, because each movie is a gigantic investment of time and money, and you're never guaranteed a next entry.
On the other hand, a season of Doctor Who which ran like a season of Sherlock might be OK, with each episode being a relatively self-contained 90 minutes. If the Beeb could figure out a financial plan which let each 90 minute Who episode have a higher budget than your usual 90 minute Beeb show, then that could be a good compromise, and you could probably sell some DVD/Blu-Rays of those made for TV movies individually.
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:21 AM on November 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's also why Doctor Who, as a serial, is probably not the best movie franchise idea. After twenty minutes of setup, you're left with an hour or two of story, with no opportunity for bringbacks to earlier episodes. The appeal of being to tell any story with Doctor Who is wasted on the movie format, because each movie is a gigantic investment of time and money, and you're never guaranteed a next entry.
On the other hand, a season of Doctor Who which ran like a season of Sherlock might be OK, with each episode being a relatively self-contained 90 minutes. If the Beeb could figure out a financial plan which let each 90 minute Who episode have a higher budget than your usual 90 minute Beeb show, then that could be a good compromise, and you could probably sell some DVD/Blu-Rays of those made for TV movies individually.
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:21 AM on November 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
On the other hand, a season of Doctor Who which ran like a season of Sherlock might be OK, with each episode being a relatively self-contained 90 minutes.
They just did that a couple of years ago at the end of Tennant's run, between Nu Who S4 (the Donna season) and S5 (the first Matt Smith season). I wasn't entirely satisfied with the results but with the current showrunning, maybe they could play better to certain of Moffat's strengths. He always wants to cram too much stuff in his plotty episodes. Also, as someone who watches a lot of Classic Who, I find that one of the casualties of the short (1 hr as opposed to 4x20min) episodes is a focus on one-off characters that gives viewers an investment in the episode plots. It's why stories like the Silurian two-parter in S5 felt so much like old-skool stories to me. If the current team could effectively do a serial with climaxes, but less repetition, in 90 minutes, I'd be all over that.
A movie, pulled out of continuity, would have pretty much exactly the opposite effect. It's part of why the prospect fills me with meh.
posted by immlass at 7:31 AM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
They just did that a couple of years ago at the end of Tennant's run, between Nu Who S4 (the Donna season) and S5 (the first Matt Smith season). I wasn't entirely satisfied with the results but with the current showrunning, maybe they could play better to certain of Moffat's strengths. He always wants to cram too much stuff in his plotty episodes. Also, as someone who watches a lot of Classic Who, I find that one of the casualties of the short (1 hr as opposed to 4x20min) episodes is a focus on one-off characters that gives viewers an investment in the episode plots. It's why stories like the Silurian two-parter in S5 felt so much like old-skool stories to me. If the current team could effectively do a serial with climaxes, but less repetition, in 90 minutes, I'd be all over that.
A movie, pulled out of continuity, would have pretty much exactly the opposite effect. It's part of why the prospect fills me with meh.
posted by immlass at 7:31 AM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by CarlRossi at 12:40 PM on November 14, 2011