Series 7 Episode 3 Title Revealed?

In an interview with BBC America about his upcoming episode of Doctor Who Series 7 (which we now know is likely to be Episode Three), Toby Whithouse hinted: “My episode is in a genre I’ve never written before — frankly, no one has written in that genre for quite a while now.”

Now, on the Gallifrey Base forums, a poster has claimed that an actor colleague of theirs had with them a audition script page for Doctor Who Series 7 Episode 3, bearing the intriguing title:

‘The Gunslingers’

This might explain the recently discovered filming trip to Spain that the Doctor Who crew will be soon making for an episode in the next series - quite a number of spaghetti western cowboy films have been filmed in Spain before.

In keeping with Whithouse’s comment, this is certainly a genre that has not been written for TV Doctor Who in quite some time (see ‘The Gunfighters’, if you can), not to mention that it would undoubtedly accommodate the Eleventh Doctor’s trusty Stetson.

Many thanks to Dr Who Spoilers.

Sherlock VS Spock? - Star Trek filming commences

WARNING: this post may contain spoilers.

Filming is well underway on the new Star Trek film  in the franchise’s ‘reboot series’. Renound actor Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast as a big bad villain in the new film, and recent filming reports show photos of the Sherlock star shooting a fight scene between his character and Spock (played by Zachary Quinto, Heroes) and Lieutenant Uhura (played by Zoe Saldana, Avatar).

Director JJ Abrams was seen on set choreographing and directing this epic fight scene, which took place on top of a 180-degree-rotating Space Barge set with a green screen backdrop. Interestingly, Cumberbatch appears to be wearing a variation of the Star Fleet uniform, with black shirt instead of the usual red, blue and yellows.

Click the images to enlarge…

Zoe Saldana said of the leaked on-set pictures: “J.J. was very upset, I have to say that. It's not going to stop people from intruding, but they are, and it's such a bummer because it only hurts them by stealing away the surprise.”

The next Star Trek movie is due for release in 2013 and also stars Simon Pegg as “Scotty” (previoulsy played The Editor in Doctor Who ‘The Long Game’, Shaun of the Dead, Paul) and Chris Pine (ER, CSI Miami).

Remembering Nicholas Courtney (1929-2011)

“Chap with the wings, there. Five rounds rapid.”

That immortal line, spoken famously by UNIT’s only true leader. Evoking such brilliant memories in young and old.

One year ago to this day, our Brigadier - Nicholas Courtney – passed away. A year since the news and it still feels unreal.
Gone? Surely not. Our Brig?

Nobody has to do anything particularly flamboyant or spectacular, just remember him. Not that we could forget, but just keep him in mind today and, in doing so, raise your glass and give a little tip of the old UNIT cap to Nicholas Courtney who played Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart with such brilliance for so long.

Nicholas Courtney
(1929-2011)

Nicholas Courtney

Karen Gillan: "It's a damn good exit!"

The actress brought to fame for her portrayal of Amy Pond has given an exclusive interview to IGN about her current work recently, including talk about her (then) upcoming TV film 'biopic' We'll Take Manhattan.

But, for us Who fans, the more interesting topic of conversation came when the interviewer moved to the subject of Karen's involvement in Doctor Who Series 7 in 2012. As we all know, word on the next 2012 series is tight-lipped, but Karen Gillan has given us some interesting titbits nonetheless.

When asked of the number of episodes in which she would feature, Karen said: "I'm not allowed to say. But I know they're going to be so damn good. It's so exciting." She added, "I think [the episodes are] the best ever. I can't say anything, but - oh God - I'm dying to say something!"

Are there certain things you'd like to see happen, as far as closure for her?
"I want to see her go with everything that she wants, because initially, when we met her, she was just seeking what she wants, you know what I mean? And she was kind of in this lost, transitional period, where she didn't have a stable life. So I just want to see her get what she wants."


We've seen some Doctor Who companions in the past leave and then make guest appearances. Would you be up for that if the door was open?
"I really, really want to have a final exit and then be able to look back on that as a final exit. I don't know... I just don't want to take away from that exit by making cameos in the future. I'd quite like it to be final and for people just to remember it fondly." Karen then added, "I don't even know what I'm hoping for. I just know that whatever I hope for, I read it and it's always better!"


What's it like for you to begin preparing for your time on the show to come to a close?
"It's so weird. It's just so weird. I was 21 when I started this job and I didn't really know what I was getting into. And then it just went crazy. It was this whirlwind. I'm coming out of the other end of it and I feel like a different person almost."

"And I just had the best time of my entire life doing this job. Honestly, I've got to say that. So obviously I'm going to be sad to be going and I'm going to be leaving my best mates behind. But you know, all things come to a natural end and that's what the show's about: Change. And you just kind of have to embrace it and go with it."

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Doctor Who Series 7 is due to broadcast this Autumn, and began filming yesterday morning.

> Series 7 Location Filming - 20th Feb 2011

Series 7 Location Filming - 20th Feb 2012

As you probably know, Block One of Doctor Who Series Seven filming commenced today, beginning with a shoot on Church Road in Penarth.

As DWF reported earlier, while the cast were arriving on location, on set was Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley in Harry Potter). Maybe he was the "exciting" casting news that Matt Smith commented on a few days ago?

Matt said, when asked about casting for Series 7: “The casting is going very well. I got a lovely bit of news this morning about someone who’s going to be in it. I couldn’t possibly tell you but it’s exciting. You’ll know him… Or her.”

FILMING SUMMARY - 20th FEBRUARY 2012 9-10AM Filming began with all interior scenes inside a house on Church Road in Penarth, Cardiff. Interior filming included Mark Williams, Karen Gillan, and Arthur Darvill as the scene's only cast members. 1PM: By this time, filming at this location had concluded and the cast and crew were beginning to leave. Click images to enlarge...   Images courtesy of Ryan Farrall. Additional information: The DOP (Director of Photography) for Block One is Stephan Pehrsson). As can be seen from the clapperboard, the scenes shot are set very early in the episode, Scene 2-5 to be precise (source). Karen Gillan played the piano through filming, which is included in the scene, according to the house resident (source). It has been rumoured that Mark Williams may indeed be playing Rory's dad, though this is entirely speculation. He was wearing a costume not dissimilar to Rory's regular Series 5 outfit, though (thanks to a photo tweeted by Grace Jenkins, one of the house residents). I must say I hope it's true, myself.

DWF will be reporting on all the latest Series 7 news as it comes...

Mark Williams in Series 7 - First Day Filming

Filming has begun on the seventh series of Doctor Who since 2005, or technically the 33rd series, and the cast and crew are arriving on set for the first day of filming on Block One of filming.

As usual with the first days of location filming, there are already onlookers on the scene (photos of filming will be posted today as we get them & with a spoiler warning, of course). We're already receiving news from devoted eyewitnesses  - in this case photographer Ryan Farrell, who earlier tweeted his sighting of actor Mark Williams arriving on set (pictured above).

Williams is known to many as one half of the "Suites you, sir!" tailor pairing in The Fast Show, though very probably known better to most kids as Ron's father Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter films. He has recently starred in the current fourth series of Being Human, as the comic vampire Regus.

Ryan Farrell @ryanfarrr
"Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley) is on set. No sign of Matt, Karen or Arthur yet. #dwsr"

More Series 7 filming news as we get it...!

Star Trek & Doctor Who Crossover Confirmed

Tony Lee has confirmed that a new official crossover between Doctor Who and Star Trek is in production as a fully-licensed graphic novel. You may know Tony Lee’s name as one of the significant writers for the North American Doctor Who graphic novel series by IDW publishing, which began with Tenth Doctor stories and now covers Eleventh Doctor adventures.

The writer has confirmed that the crossover comic will be titled Star Trek: The Next Generation / Doctor Who: ‘Assimilation²’ and will feature the Cybermen and Star Trek’s Borg enemies in an alliance against Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise and the Eleventh Doctor with his companions.

PRESS RELEASE:

Star Trek: The Next Generation® crew and the Doctor face off against the Borg and the Cybermen

In conjunction with BBC Worldwide Consumer Products and CBS Consumer Products, IDW Publishing will make history when two of the greatest science-fiction properties of all time come together in a comic book for the first time. The world’s most popular time traveler teams up with the U.S.S. Enterprise crew in STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION/DOCTOR WHO: ASSIMILATION², taking fans on an adventure where no man has gone before.

“By joining these two sci-fi powerhouses, fans will be taken on the ultimate adventure through time and space,” said Liz Kalodner, executive vice president and general manager of CBS Consumer Products.

Launching in May, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION/DOCTOR WHO: ASSIMILATION2 will feature fan-favorite villains the Borg and the Cybermen as they create an unholy alliance resulting in potential disaster for all humanity. Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise find themselves joining forces with the Doctor and his companions, with the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance.

“We are excited about this new adventure for the Doctor and the fact that he will be traveling with Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his iconic crew. This is a perfect partnership for not only Doctor Who’s incredible fans, but also for the brand. We have just celebrated our most successful year yet. Doctor Who’s latest season delivered record ratings for BBC AMERICA and it was most downloaded full TV seasons of 2011 in the U.S. on the iTunes Store,” says Soumya Sriraman, executive vice president Home Entertainment and Licensing.

This eight-issue series will be written by Scott and David Tipton, the authors of critically acclaimed Star Trek: Infestation, with a helping hand from longtime Doctor Who writer Tony Lee, and will feature fully painted artwork by J.K. Woodward (Fallen Angel).

Fans are encouraged to ask their retailers about the rare wraparound photo cover. Plus, artist Joe Corroney (Star Trek Ongoing) will provide a variant cover featuring the Doctor and friends aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Doctor Who and Star Trek are two hugely successful franchises that began as television series, and have expanded into a number of other media, including comic books, which continue to captivate fans all over the world. Nearly five decades and 1,500 episodes in the making, this is the moment that both Trekkers and Whovians have waited for all their lives!

Star Trek: The Next Generation / Doctor Who ‘Assimilation²’ will be available to buy in North American stores (and online for other countries) for $3.99 full-colour 32-pages for each instalment of the eight-issue series in May 2012.

> Tony Lee’s blog