In a move that is sure to anger many, the BBC has decided to turn TV series DOCTOR WHO into a film franchise, putting HARRY POTTER director David Yates at the helm of the project. But before you WHO fans get too excited, you should be aware that the film will have nothing to do with the current series running on BBC. No Matt Smith, no Steven Moffat, no continuity overlap. This will be a brand new, fresh approach to the property.
Yates spoke with Variety and filled them in on his plans.
“We’re looking at writers now. We’re going to spend two to three years to get it right. It needs quite a radical transformation to take it into the bigger arena.”
Yates complimented showrunners Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat but said that his WHO film wouldn’t be associated with theirs. It’s actually a smart move when you think about it. WHO has been on the air, on and off, since 1963. To try and turn that into a film would be very daunting and confusing to moviegoers. Yates’s approach will take the character and universe but start it from scratch without affecting the show that so many love. It’ll be easier for newcomers and it won’t anger the die-hards…too much.
DOCTOR WHO is about an alien named The Doctor and his fun sci-fi adevnture. In a human form (and spiffy wardrobe) The Doctor travels through space and time with a human companion, doing battle with aliens and other evil foes. That phone booth you see in all the ads is The Doctor’s TARDIS, his ship. It looks small on the outside but is massive inside.
Where will Yates and his eventual writer take the property? We have a few years to find out so your speculation won’t be addressed for some time. You can be sure that many people will be up-in-arms about the BBC’s decision but if Yates pulls this off (like he did for POTTER) those complaints will someday be replaced with cheers.
Read more about the project over at Variety.
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