McGann denies movie rumorsBookmark and Share

Thursday, 30 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Following rumours that a movie was in the works featuring the Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann has denied that he is to reprise his role.

Speaking to SyFy Portal's Alan Stanley Blair at the recent Collectormania show, Paul officially denied the rumours with the following statement:

"I've heard as well, yeah I've heard,". "Well they haven't called me, but often you hear it first through rumour. But you know... yeah I'd go back and do it ... as long as I don't have to wear a wig."




FILTER: - Movies

Doctor Who Film & TVBookmark and Share

Sunday, 4 March 2001 - Reported by Marcus
Compiled by:
Shaun Lyon
And Yet... It May Happen: Our best information suggests that the Doctor Who film may indeed be announced as early as this summer. A major Hollywood studio has indeed optioned a script in conjunction with BBC Films, as has been confirmed to us through our sources. While any casting or other information is jumping the gun at best, Outpost Gallifrey can indeed confirm that a film project is now closer than it has ever been to fruition. We'll keep you posted.

Even More Film Rumors... Shot Down: Britain's Sunday Telegraph paper on January 21 leads off with an article "Dr Who spearheads BBC's Ј50m bid for film success" by writer Oliver Poole. Says the article: "A LAVISH dramatisation of the early years of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a feature-length updated version of Dr Who will be among the highlights of the BBC's multi-million bid to become a big player in the film industry, The Telegraph can reveal... David Thompson, the head of BBC films, confirmed rumours that there would be a Dr Who film, with a budget expected to be Ј40 million, and said that filming would start next year. He said: 'We are talking to a famous American director and hope to announce his name in the next few months. A British actor will definitely play the Doctor but we have not decided who yet.'" However, on January 25, SFX Magazine reports that a spokesperson for the BBC's "fledgling" film department says that these reports were "optimistic at best.... The Sunday Telegraph got it wrong." The spokesperson told SFX that plans for a film version have indeed been in development, but that there has been no further progress with them. We have also been told by a correspondent who works for BBC Worldwide that there is considerable belief within the BBC that the film project has stalled beyond hope of repair, and that it is seen as the sole obstacle to reestablishment of discussions over a possible return to television. We'll keep you posted with more details soon!




FILTER: - Movies

Doctor Who Film ProjectBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 28 November 2000 - Reported by Marcus
Compiled by:
Shaun Lyon with Mark Phippen
A New Doctor Who Film Report: Over the November 25-26 weekend, the Sunday Times in the UK broke a new film-related story. Entitled "Dyke calls up Daleks to take on Hollywood," the article by media editor Nicholas Hellen suggested (erroneously, as we have been able to confirm) that a new Doctor Who film is imminent. "MOVE over Darth Vader, here come the Daleks," says the article. "The BBC is to compete head-on with Hollywood under plans by Greg Dyke, the director-general, to revolutionise British film-making. The £250m venture, to be announced next month, will lead to the corporation's first foray into big-budget movies after years of small-scale costume dramas. Dyke's blueprint for a full-scale Hollywood-style film studio at the BBC is intended to reverse the talent drain which has seen generations of actors and directors leave Britain for Hollywood. ... The Daleks will lead the assault on the international box office as the BBC devises a movie version of Dr Who, the science-fiction series first screened in 1963 in black and white. Sequels are already being prepared." The full article can be found at the Sunday Times website.

Since the article ran -- and the Outpost has been inundated with emails pointing us in this direction -- we have been able to confirm that the article is merely a retread of old news. While the news about Dyke and the British film plans are true, the BBC's film plans for Doctor Who are currently only in early planning stages, and no appropriation, financing or production schedule is on the horizon for the near future. Indeed, the BBC's own official Doctor Who website posted on November 27 that the article merely highlights long-standing possibilities, and that a Doctor Who film is no further along than it was when stories started to break in 1999 (see the news archive page for related stories). When and if the situation changes, Outpost Gallifrey will keep you updated.




FILTER: - Movies - Press

NEW DOCTOR WHO PROJECTSBookmark and Share

Friday, 15 September 2000 - Reported by Marcus
Compiled by:
Shaun Lyon and Mark Phippen
Doctor Who Film: Though many rumors have suggested to the contrary, there is currently NO action on a Doctor Who movie by the BBC... except for wishful thinking and investigation into possible co-financiers. See the archive page for full details.

Doctor Who Returns to the Radio: Doctor Who Magazine and several British newspapers recently reported that BBC Radio was in the advanced planning stages of a new Doctor Who project for Radio 4, for debut in early 2001. Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred were touted as being considered to reprise their roles as the Seventh Doctor and Ace for the serial. An article in The Guardian, a UK newspaper, on March 27, indicated that the script is written by Dan Freedman and Colin Meake of Radio 4's Loose Ends comedy show. Freedman told Doctor Who Magazine that "This will not be a comedy. I'm keen to develop a new take, to bring forward darker aspects of the character." The Guardian story goes on to mention that Sylvester McCoy is considering the role, but that a BBC spokesman would not promise a series, being quoted as saying "We don't want to build up fans' hopes." Recent information suggests that the radio drama bears the provisional title "Doctor Who: Death Comes to Time". Actor Stephen Fry has apparently signed on to play a role in the production. At the Battlefield IV convention in late April, Sylvester McCoy commented that the Radio 4 chief who commissioned the production has recently been replaced and this could affect the show, which is currently slated to be taped in October 2000 and aired in February 2001.

In early June, in the popular UK movie magazine Empire, Stephen Fry answered questions sent in by readers; he confirmed his involvement in a Doctor Who project for radio. "It is true. It's extraordinarily clever of him to know that. I've been sworn to the utmost secrecy by the BBC because there is such a huge contingency of Whovians, I think they call them. So it is true, but I can't tell you what part I play or what happens in it because I would be assassinated if I did." However, on June 7, Outpost Gallifrey was contacted by Dan Freedman, who sent us the following clarification: "The facts are: At least one episode is definitely being made, series is likely but not officially definite. Sylvester, Sophie and Stephen Fry are confirmed in it. Its called Dr Who: Death Comes to Time and is set after Survival. I write comedy when I'm writing, but I'm just producing this, not writing. Colin Meek (SF writer, not comedy) is writing it. Next week we should have an info page about how fans can be involved in it on the Online page. The departure of James Boyle (ex controller of Radio 4) doesn't mean anything bad, it took me 5 months to persuade him to have it..."

The BBC's official Doctor Who website has confirmed that the BBC has commissioned a pilot episode only ("This means that they have asked and paid for the production of one episode for Radio 4. If they like it, they will commission a series. Until then, there is no date for anything to be broadcast. At the moment, recording is scheduled for October.") Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, Leonard Fenton (Dr. Legge in "Eastenders") and Stephen Fry are confirmed by the site. A new and advanced completion date has been given for the pilot. Also, it looks almost certain that the pilot will be released on BBC Audio, eventually. Meanwhile, the BBC Symphony Orchestra won't be doing the pilot because of the new date, but they will be doing the series, if and when it happens, according to the BBC's official site; neither will David Bowie, who turned down a role in the new drama because of time concerns. However, John Sessions IS confirmed for the series if it happens.

On Thursday June 29, BBC Online completed a live interview with Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, producer Dan Freedman and actor Kevin Eldon this week, all of whom are all taking part in "Death Comes to Time". The production will feature a new version of Ron Grainer's theme music. Eldon says he will not be playing the Master, but instead "a gay Cyberman triumphing in the homophobic world of evil robots" (he was, of course, joking).

As of November 8, the pilot for this proposed series is complete. In addition to the above, actor Huw Thomas (coincidentally the brother of early Dalek director Richard Martin) is among the many cast members. If BBC Radio decides to go ahead with an audio series -- commissioning editors likley to make a decision in early January -- the series would likely not be out before June, according to our highly-placed sources.

(With thanks to Peter Anghelides and David Whitten for the news, and Dan Freedman for contacting us directly.)




FILTER: - Movies - Radio