SciFiAndTvTalk

Torchwood Returns!

Jack's back! John Barrowman is set to reprise his role of Captain Jack Harkness in a new series of Torchwood. Photo copyright of the BBC.

STARZ Entertainment has acquired U.S. television rights to the next installment of the BBC’s audience sensation Torchwood, developed and produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Starz will debut the 10-episode series exclusively in the U.S., and BBC One will debut it in the U.K., both in summer, 2011. This is a co-production between Starz, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide, and BBC Worldwide will distribute the show outside the U.S. The deal was jointly announced today by Starz, LLC, President and CEO Chris Albrecht and BBC Worldwide Productions EVP Jane Tranter.

The stars of the previous versions of Torchwood, notably John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), will return for the new version. Additional key cast, reflecting the more international scope of the series, will be announced soon.

Torchwood is a drama that puts extraterrestrial threats into a very real world, and asks how humanity deals with the danger - while fighting humankind’s darkest instincts. The series’ previous three seasons aired on BBC America in the U.S. and garnered record-breaking ratings for the network. Created by visionary writer/producer Russell T Davies, Torchwood has to date been located primarily in Cardiff, Wales. The new series will allow Davies and his writing team to tell a more explosive and global story, one that takes advantage of the unlimited narrative opportunities of a premium television service like Starz. Davies and BBC Worldwide Productions’ SVP Scripted Julie Gardner return as executive producers, with Davies also serving as show-runner for the new  Torchwood.

“We’re committed to programming exceptional television that is entertaining, imaginative and provides a premium TV experience, and by any measure the new concept for Torchwood fits that mandate,” Starz, LLC, President and CEO Chris Albrecht said. “I’ve been part of successful partnerships with Jane Tranter and the BBC previously, and I’m very much looking forward to working with them again.”

"Torchwood has attracted remarkable attention and loyalty in both the UK and U.S., and in this new partnership with Starz, the next chapter will not only reward our current fans, but also introduce new viewers to the most impressive installment yet,” said Jane Tranter, EVP, BBC Worldwide Productions. “Chris Albrecht and his team are committed to delivering quality premium programming to their subscribers, also a core attribute of the BBC, and we are excited to be working with them as the Torchwood adventure continues.”

“Russell, Jane and Julie came to us with a compelling vision for the evolution of the Torchwood saga that really takes the story into whole new areas,” added Carmi Zlotnik, Managing Director of Starz Media – the production and development division of Starz. “The compelling story and characters this trio created provide a strong template for driving this narrative in exciting ways.”  Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning said: "We have a long history of working with many U.S. networks, but it is incredibly exciting to be working with Starz for the first time, as well as to be reunited with the best of British in Russell, Jane and Julie.Torchwood will burst back onto the screen with a shocking and moving story with global stakes and locations that will make it feel bigger and bolder than ever."

Torchwood is the latest piece of notable programming from Starz. It follows on the heels of the recently concluded first season of the epic Spartacus: Blood and Sand, this summer’s highly anticipated event  series “The Pillars of the Earth, based on author Ken Follett’s international bestseller, and the recently announced series Camelot, which Starz is co-producing with GK-TV and will air early in 2011.

Torchwood originally debuted in the UK on BBC One in 2006. All five episodes of Torchwood: Children of Earth reached the Top 10 list in TV Episodes across the entire iTunes TV Store, with episode 1 of the series reaching the top spot the week of launch in August, 2009.

As noted above, photo copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Piers Wenger And Beth Willis Talk About Doctor Who

No rest for the weary Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) in his first adventure, The Eleventh Hour. Photo copyright of the BBC.

This is the last of four BBC America press interviews with Doctor Who cast and crew, counting down to the premiere of the show's new season on BBC America, April 17th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST. Enjoy!

Piers Wenger and Beth Willis have taken on executive producer duties, alongside Steven Moffat, from the outgoing Doctor Who team of Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner. Here they reveal the challenges they have faced with taking on such a hugely successful series and why it's so important for Doctor Who to evolve.

"It has definitely been a big challenge taking on this show because we love it so much and why tinker with something that has been as popular, successful and brilliant as it has been?" says executive producer Beth Willis. "But at the same time we are terribly aware we have to look forward and work out how the show is going to survive in the future. In 2005, the team looked at what was fresh and new then and we have to do a bit of that ourselves. Looking at the episodes we've filmed so far, we're starting to see the impact of those changes; what the team has managed to achieve is pretty thrilling."

Fellow executive producer and Head of Drama for BBC Wales, Piers Wenger, agrees and adds: "The thing which is most important to us is telling a good story at the end of the day; that's always the thing the audience is going to be most demanding about. Beyond that, any changes we have made have been motivated by giving the show the best production values money can buy. It's the nation's favorite, and that means it deserves the best."

The advances in technology over the past five years have inevitably enabled the program makers to use more sophisticated techniques and create awe-inspiring visual effects. However, a new lead writer and Doctor are undoubtedly what viewers will feel mark the dawn of a new era for the hit series.

"The fact that we have Steven Moffat [executive producer] writing it and Matt Smith [The Doctor] starring in it gives the show an inevitable element of change," explains Willis. "However, the one thing that hasn't made us scared about this change was reading Steven's scripts. I feel deeply honored and excited to be in a position to be working with such great scripts. It doesn't really matter what color you use, where the camera is or how you position a light; Steven and Matt are brilliant, which has made mine and Piers' jobs much easier."

Renowned as the most dedicated and passionate fans in the world, it seems Whovians certainly have a lot to look forward to. But would Wenger and Willis consider themselves part of the loyal following?

"Steven, myself and Piers were some of the most excited people in the country when we found out Doctor Who was coming back in 2005. Well, in truth, Steven was probably the most excited, but Piers and I weren't that far behind him!" laughs Willis.

"I've always been a fan and I was even accused at the age of eight of shoplifting a copy of Doctor Who Magazine from my local newsagents - completely wrongly I hasten to add," confesses Wenger. "I was accused of it probably because I was in there all the time reading them!"

As noted above, photo is copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

David Tennant ' s Final Doctor Who Special On BBC America

[caption id="attachment_4657" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="David Tennant at the Doctor in The End of Time. Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption]   BBC America today announced the U.S. premiere of David Tennant's final special as the Tenth Doctor. Doctor Who: The End of Time, Part Two, premieres January 2nd, 2010, one week after Part One, on BBC America. The finale to the era of David Tennant is one of the most eagerly anticipated adventures in the history of Doctor Who. Guest-stars include John Simm (Life on Mars) as The Master, Timothy Dalton, Catherine Tate, Bernard Cribbins and June Whitfield. New synopsis for the final three specials airing on BBC America over the holiday season are as follows:   Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars - Lindsay Duncan (Alice and Wonderland) joins the Doctor as his sharpest and most strong-minded companion yet for the second of four Doctor Who specials. The Waters of Mars is a dark, scary thriller that sees the Doctor land at a base in peril on the planet Mars. A creeping infection beneath the Martian surface threatens not only the human race, but also the Doctor's most fundamental beliefs. Together with Adelaide Brooke (Lindsay Duncan), the base's commander, the Doctor must defeat a seemingly unstoppable menace before it can reach Earth and wipe out mankind. The Doctor must fight not only the water, but destiny itself, whilst also confronting his own existence, when the prophecy about his future begins to resonate. Is his song about to come to an end? The Waters of Mars airs Saturday, December 19th @ 9:00 pm EST/PST on BBC America and was written by Russell T. Davies (Torchwood, Queer as Folk) and Phil Ford and directed by Graeme Harper. The executive producers are Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner (Torchwood, Life on Mars).   Doctor Who: The End of Time, Part One - It's the Tenth Doctor's final journey, but his psychotic nemesis, The Master, has been reborn on Christmas Eve. With both determined to cheat death, the battle ranges from the wastelands of London to the mysterious Immortality Gate. Meanwhile, the alien race, the Ood, warn of an even greater danger approaching, as a terrible shadow falls across the entire universe. The End of Time, Part One airs Saturday, December 26th @ 9:00 p.m. on BBC America and was written by Russell T. Davies and directed by Euros Lyn. The producer is Tracie Simpson.   Doctor Who: The End of Time, Part Two - The Doctor faces the end of his life as The Master's plans hurtle out of control. With the sound of drums growing louder and an ancient trap closing around Earth, the Doctor and Wilf must fight alone. But sacrifices must be made, and the deadly prophecy warns, "He will knock four times." The End of Time, Part Two airs Saturday, January 2nd @ 8:00 p.m. on BBC America and was written by Russell T. Davies and directed by Euros Lyn. The producer is Tracie Simpson.   Regarding the final specials, lead writer and executive producer Russell T. Davies told the Radio Times, "It's personal for the Doctor. The Master (John Simm) is his enemy, his opposite, and yet so tantalizingly close to being his soul mate. There's something epic about their sheer existence - the last two survivors of an ancient race [The Time Lords]. It's a clash of the titans, both of them heading for death, and yet both determined to survive - at any cost."   Davies and Tennant are passing the baton to Steven Moffat and actor Matt Smith, who will play the Eleventh Doctor in a new season of the re-imagined series premiering in 2010 on BBC America.   As noted above, photo copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Doctor Who Specials Are Landing On BBC America

[caption id="attachment_3953" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="David Tennant (The Doctor) and Lindsay Duncan (Adelaide) in Doctor Who: The Waters Of Mars. Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption] THE BBC today announced the imminent arrival of the final Doctor Who episodes starring David Tennant as the Doctor. Television's longest running Science Fiction series, shot in HD, has just three episodes to go before a new Time Lord arrives onscreen in 2010. The next special, Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars, airs on BBC America, Saturday, December 19th @ 9 p.m. EST/PST. It stars Tennant and British stage and screen actress Lindsay Duncan (Rome, Langford) as Adelaide, his cleverest and most strong-minded companion. [caption id="attachment_3954" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Doctor and Adelaide are on the move! Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3955" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="What is it that The Doctor and Adelaide are on the run from? Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3956" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Could it be this gruesome-looking chap? Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption] All will be revealed as the Doctor and his companion Adelaide face terror on the Red Planet in one of the show's scariest adventures yet. Peter O'Brien (Casualty, Neighbors) guest-stars as Ed, Adelaide's second-on-command on the base. The Waters of Mars is written by Russell T. Davies (Torchwood, Queer as Folk) and Phil Ford and directed by Graeme Harper. The executive producers are Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner (Torchwood, Life on Mars). [caption id="attachment_3957" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Proceed with extreme caution! Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3958" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Adelaide and The Doctor see something strange in the shadows ahead of them. Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_3959" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The angry Red Planet takes on a whole new meaning in The Waters of Mars. Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption] The remaining episodes starring David Tennant will air over the holiday season as a two-part special. Airdates will be released in early December. The actor shot a total of four specials before exiting the role - Planet of the Dead was the first to air last July on BBC America. As noted above, all photos copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

The British Are Coming!

[caption id="attachment_1491" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Guess who's coming to San Diego??? David Tennant as The Doctor in Doctor Who. Photo copyright of the BBC"][/caption] IN support of BBC America's U.S. premiere of four Doctor Who specials, The Doctor himself, David Tennant, will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russell T. Davies at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego. They will take part in a Doctor Who panel along with executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn on Sunday, July 26th from 10 a.m - 11 a.m. PST in Ballroom 20. David will travel to Comic-Con fresh from the Doctor Who set, having shot his final scenes at the 10th Time Lord. He and fellow panelists will discuss the latest incarnation of television's longest running Science Fiction series and take questions from the floor. There will also be exclusive sneak peeks from the upcoming specials. Fans can visit the BBC America booth (#3629) to capture their own photograph alongside part of the Doctor Who set, as well as purchase exclusive merchandise including David Tennant figures. Fans of BBC America's highest rated show ever, Torchwood, which will have just completed the five-part special Children of Earth, will get to chat first-hand with the stars and makers of the show. Just 48 hours after the last episode, the series makes a return visit to Comic-Con with a panel featuring star John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), writer/executive producer Russell T. Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn on Sunday, July 26th from 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. PST in Room 6BCF. As part of the Torchwood panel, catch the talent from BBC America's most buzzed about new Science Fiction drama, Being Human. Creator and writer Toby Whithouse, plus lead actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aiden Turner, talk about the inspiration for the show and what it's like to play three twenty-somethings with secret double-lives - as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. All four panelists will be signing exclusively at the BBC America booth on Saturday, July 25th from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. PST. Cult comedy favorite and BAFTA-nominated The Mighty Boosh comes to Comic-Con for the first time to celebrate the airing of all three seasons on Adult Swim and the BBC's DVD release, just two days before the convention begins. Inspired by the Perrier Comedy Award-winning live comedy show, creators/stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown will be onstage to discuss the magical, bizarre and exciting world of The Boosh on Friday, July 24th from 4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m PST in Room 6A. The hit UK comedy series follows crazy zookeepers Howard Moon and Vince Noir and was described by The San Jose Mercury News as "an acid trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny."  This panel will be preceeded by a Mighty Boosh signing in the Autograph Area from 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m PST. Fans can also catch exclusive BBC America screenings during the convention with back-to-back episodes of Doctor Who and Torchwood. On Saturday, July 25th from 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. PST in Room 6A, key talent from Torchwood and Doctor Who introduce the last episode of the five-part series Torchwood: Children of Earth, and an advance viewing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the first of four specials starring David Tennant. Underground Toys (Booth #3949) will be selling its entire Doctor Who and Torchwood lines of toys and novelty items as well as once again introduce new limited-edition Comic-Con action figures that have never been seen before. As noted above, the photo of David Tennant is copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any form. Thanks!