Friday, August 11, 2006

"Doctor Who" take two on Sci Fi

Warning: Proceed through this post with caution, 'cause it's about to get awfully geeky in here.

The news from the Sci Fi Channel seems to get better all the time. Though I've been a little disappointed with "Eureka" (so far), Thursday morning came an announcement that made the month of September a lot brighter.


Starting with a two-hour premiere sometime in September (details to come ASAP), the second season of "Doctor Who" will be coming to Sci Fi. It will start with the "Christmas Vacation" special in which David Tennant (best known, I suppose, as Barty Crouch Jr. in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") is introduced as the new Doctor.

This is a no-brainer for Sci Fi, of course, since 1.5 million viewers a week tuned in to watch Christopher Eccleston as the good Doctor in season one. What possessed Eccleston to walk away after just one year I'll never understand, but the show will definitely go on without him.

I'll admit I'm a late bloomer to the "Doctor Who" world. My first introduction was watching season one on Sci Fi, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so I'll definitely be back for more.

Mr Gilliam and Mr. Dick?

If this one turns out to be true, it could make for the most interesting biopic in years.

With Paul Giamatti already being lined up to star as sci fi writer Philip K. Dick in the story of the author's life, Terry Gilliam is now rumored to be directing the project. This is now, officially, what I'm going to be thinking about all morning instead of my job.

Gilliam, if he's kept at least a little bit under control, would seem perfect for this, which will take an odd approach to biography. Along with giving the details of Mr. Dick's life, it will weave throughout elements from his last work, "The Owl in Daylight." It sounds a lot like the technique used for "American Splendor" to me, which could be an epic success or a royal failure.

And Mr. Gilliam is certainly familiar with both. I remember watching "Lost in La Mancha," the great documentary about his failed attempt to make a movie about Don Quixote. It's funny at first, as you watch Johnny Depp and his bella companion Vanessa Paradis toiling in the desert for a project you already know won't fly. But by the end, it's just painful to watch a genius director fall so hard.

My money is on much better results with this one. No word yet on how fast they'll move with this profect, using a script by Tony Grisoni, but i'll definitely keep an eye on the proceedings.

20 comments:

Carrie Lofty said...

Thanks for the pic of David Tennant. I know his voice very well from various Shakespearian plays he voiced for Arkangel Productions in 2003, but I had never seen his face.

As for Eccleston - so weird, yet so hot. How is that possible?

Reel Fanatic said...

Mr. Eccleston must surely have had some big plans to turn this down, but I also have no idea what they are, Salome

jonathan said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
jonathan said...

I too came late to Doctor Who. But after watching about half the first season I am way excited to see the second. Thanks for the suggestion to my blog as well

Terence Towles Canote said...

I've seen a good number of the original Doctor Who episodes and have always liked them. I must say that I am interested in seeing the new version, although I have yet to see any episodes.

Unknown said...

Oh my. If Gilliam actually gets to direct that film, I'll be giddy with glee!

BTW, would you mind updating your blogroll with my new website address: www.madaboutmovies.net

Thanks! :)

Have a great weekend!

Reel Fanatic said...

I think you can get the most recent season with Eccleston on DVD, Mercurie .. if not, you definitely should be able to soon


Marina, I'll be glad to update your link and, of course, check out the new site!

Passion of the Weiss said...

Gilliam doing a PK Dick bio sounds amazing. i can't imagine anyone else doing it. He did an awesome job with Fear and Loathing. I know that isn't a biopic but it sorta' was. And obviously he does that dystopian sci-fi world better than anyone (maybe Linklater could do a good job as well). I hope it comes to fruition.

Reel Fanatic said...

This one is indeed too good not to happen, Mr. Weiss ... Linklater would also be a solid choice, but I'm really, really hoping for Gilliam!

Rob said...

If any British series should become a hit in the USA then it should be Doctor Who. Having seen all of season 2 I can assure you it is, on the whole, brilliant (the Christmas episode does have a fanboy feel to it which is not alway in it's best interests - and the episode titled Love & Monsters with the Absorbaloff is one that split opinions.) David Tennant is excellent as Doctor Who, as good as Christopher Eccleston? I don't know. Different? Definately.

The problem I have is season three is on here in Britain when I am off travelling the world, oh well I think I will have to get someone to record it for me.

Reel Fanatic said...

I'm glad to get word from someone who has already seen Season 2, Rob ... I can't wait to see it myself .. Please let us know about season 3 once you've seen it!

Divinity said...

I was lucky enough to catch the Dr. Who fever from my last landlady in London and religiously followed the last half of Season Two. I'm definitely a Tennant fan. I'm now back in Vancouver, Canada and catching the reruns of Season One. To compare the Doctors isn't really fair, but I can state emphatically that Rose is less of a twit in Season Two. And the finale was amazing. Mind you, every episode I caught was a gem. Especially if you're up-to-date on British tv personalities. Do you know if any channels in North America carried the "Doctor Who Confidential" supplement which follows each BBC airing?

Reel Fanatic said...

I don't think so, Divinity, but I don't get BBC America .. It might have been on there, but if not I guess we'll just have to wait for DVD

Divinity said...

Looks like the Confidentials will be on a separate disk. Interesting... http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6057
I laugh at how they call it the "first" season.

Reel Fanatic said...

Thanks for the DVD tip, divinity .. i'll definitely have to check it out!

Divinity said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Divinity said...

You're welcome. I've added you to my blogroll, so I'll be dropping by regularly. Keep up the great work!

ren said...

eccleston was brilliant, so is tennant. if you get a chance, catch him in "casanova", i think pbs is runnning it soon. v. good stuff and written by russell t. davies. also "viva blackpool" and "secret smile" (both tennant) are excellent. and come to think of it, eccleston did "second coming" with davies and that was darn good too...

Reel Fanatic said...

I'll definitely check those out, Ren ... I had only heard of Mr. Tennant from Harry Potter, but I can't wait for his turn as Dr. Who to hit the U.S. in about six weeks

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