Tuesday
26Aug2008
Is a 'Doctor Who' Movie Really a Possibility?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 6:30PM 
Almost exactly a month ago,
I spitballed the idea of a
Doctor Who movie.
Simon Pegg of Shaun of the Dead and the
upcoming How to Lose Friends and Alienate People had been asked in an
interview if he would consider taking over the classic role in its current BBC
incarnation should it become available. (He said no.)
We then set about casting a Hollywood version of the
film, based on the assumption that the current TV show would cease production,
and I said that
Chiwetel Ejiofor would be my choice, because
I'd consider him for nearly any role.
Now the talk of a movie is heating up again, thanks to
Steven Moffat, who's kind of the British Joss
Whedon or J.J. Abrams. Since taking over Doctor Who, Moffat has given the
40-year-old property tons of new life, and in fact, 10 million viewers tuned in
to watch its season finale this year. That's about one viewer in every six
people in the U.K., or the equivalent of the final episode of M*A*S*H in
the U.S.
Speaking at a festival in Edinburgh, Moffat
says he's completely unopposed to a film version. "It would be good to see it in
the cinema so long as it is great and fantastic," said the writer. He does have
a condition, however.
"I'm not against it ... so long as it never gets in the
way of the TV show. If it got in the way of the show that would be appalling."
There's good and bad in that statement, of course. If Moffat is saying he wants
no part of the film - and that is indeed what it sounds like - then we'd
probably have a whole new script (or perhaps a touched up classic) and a new Dr.
Who. That gives my Ejiofor suggestion life, if not hope. On the flip side, the
new Doctor Who is the most successful version in probably 30 years, thanks in
part to the current Doctor, played by
David Tennant. So, using its momentum to make a
film and then making the movie something completely different simply doesn't
make any sense.
So should they make a movie version of the show or start
from scratch, relatively speaking?
Reader Comments (9)
I think an even better option is an American version of the show, on a major network like Fox, a' la The Office et al.
The idea of doing Doctor Who as an American version of the show HAS been done! That's how we got the eighth Doctor: Paul McGann - and whaddya know - it was done on a major network too,. Oh yeah: Fox! The show didn't get the interest that Fox wanted and it wasn't picked up. IF they do a movie - the logical and best choice (especially if Moffat says he'd only be interested as long as it "never gets in the way of the TV show") is to bring McGann (and Eccleston if he'd do it) back and do the Time War that keeps being referenced in the show. They could have McGann at the beginning of the movie and have him regenerate into Eccleston mid-way through (or just at the end, if Eccleston isn't too hot about being the Doctor again). THAT would be a cool movie!!
Err..Moffat HASN'T taken over yet! Russell T. Davies is the one who bnrought the show back and penned the season finale, though Moffat will take over for Series 5, after next years season of specials.
I doubt that there's any way of turning a cheesy British TV-series into a movie. The point of Doctor Who is that it is (1) CHEESY (2) BRITISH (3) TV
If you take any of those three components out of it, it ceases to be Doctor Who.
The reason behind the success of the modern Doctor Who is that it brought the cheese factor down somewhat to reasonable levels.
what they should do is start showing the big two parters/three parters(series one and series three finales) in cinemas or show the specials next year (which are still Davies)
Dr. Who didn't catch on in america because the special was complete and utter tosh, just like Paul McGann's unbelievably over the top and un-Who like performance (lest we even mention the anti-climactic death of Sylvester McCoy). It's a uniquely British show that tv on this side of the pond has no business dabbling in outside of airing the BBC episodes.
Digital Spy reported somethin about a few of the 2009 specials being filmed in America, possibly with an american companion. That sounds doable - only because it's still a BBC production.
As for a movie, it always seems like movie versions of television shows are lacking. The simpsons movie being a prime example. it was funny, and had a neat plot but when it was over i just kept thinking "what was the point?" I say leave Dr. Who where it does best and where it belongs - ON THE TELLY!
I agree with the poster above: Dr Who is event television, but it may be anti-climactic cinema. Even the latest X-files has bombed at the cinema despite the alleged interest from fans on websites. Certain things are best left as they are.
I fully agree with the ceesy britishness, that should never be lost. Start from scratch? Well, I'd love to hear the discussion in the fanbase about the "canon" if there would be a new movie outside the old story (and character) line!
A Movie is not just a 90 min episode. On the big screen, you just need more. So: perfect occasion to show us the time war, isn't it?
I Personaly don't care what it is. As long as it's in who form I'll wach it. Why can't the BBC come across the pond? They have great shows and its hard to get them here I'd wach them?