Sony Hack reveals Doctor Who Movie plans.

[Captaindemotion]

^ Me too!

Actually, thinking about it more, the biggest appeal of a DW movie would be one that featured a past Doctor, probably Tennant or Smith. Think about it. We've guaranteed new, free episodes with the current Doctor, so no need for a film there.

But, what about a story centered on a past Doctor? An episode won't be centered around a past Doctor. So, if the only way to see say a new Tennant story is at the theater, that's quite a draw.

Of course, that may depend too heavily on the TV fanbase to be profitable. I'm not sure about that angle. But, as a fan, that scenario would probably be the most exciting. A new Tennant or Smith story.

Although, I'm sure I'd see it regardless!

Mr Awe

Much as I love Smith and Tennant's Doctors, I still don't think that their presence in a movie will prove a big box office draw for DW fans.

When Star Trek TNG was on the air, the two Star Trek movies released during its run (TFF and TUC) didn't do particularly well at the box office. TFF's flaws are well known but TUC is one of the best in the original series of movies and was not only a chance to see the original crew on the big screen but the final chance to see them all together.

Similarly, GEN, FC, INS and NEM were released when one could see the DS9, Voyager or (Archer's) Enterprise crews on tv but had to go to the cinema to see Picard's TNG crew. And despite the popularity of Picard and Co, those movies didn't do especially well either. NEM in particular bombed, again, despite being the final outing for one of Trek's beloved crews.

Personally I blow hot and cold on a DW movie. As Starkers said, I don't know what it will add to the tv show, other than a bigger budget and better SFX.

I'm inclined to think that a standalone movie, effectively borrowing the concept from the tv show, but not set in its continuity or bound by its history, is the way to go; cast a well-known British actor as a sort of alternative First Doctor in an origin story. But equally, I'd happily argue the or concede the points one could make against such an outing. My overall instinct is that DW belongs on tv and long may it continue to air there.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Moffat addresses the possibility of a movie directly in Radio Times.

A couple of takeaways --

He can't stop a movie from being made.
He doesn't see a point to a movie. Making money is not the point.
If there is a movie, it needs to avoid damaging the television series.

 

[Mr Awe]

Captindemotion, that's the question isn't it, how well would a film do with Tennant or Smith. I'm not sure that TNG movies are a good model for answering that question. I can't remember how much money Day of the Doctor brought in but that might be a better model. But, granted, A DW movie with Smith or Tennant probably wouldn't break records.

Personally, I'd rather not have an alternate universe DW. DW is a series that doesn't need an artificial reboot because it's always naturally rebooting itself as it goes along.

I'd be perfectly happy if DW stayed only on TV and a movie was never made. However, it feels inevitable that there will be a DW movie one day--within 8 years judging by the Sony hack.

Mr Awe

 

[sttngfan1701d]

Moffat addresses the possibility of a movie directly in Radio Times.

A couple of takeaways --

He can't stop a movie from being made.
He doesn't see a point to a movie. Making money is not the point.
If there is a movie, it needs to avoid damaging the television series.

It's easy...if you're going to do a movie, make plans to structure the series to lead up to a big event. Say, for argument's sake, the Doctor finding Gallifrey or whatever else. The TV show spends a series leading up to it, but instead of a Special episode to tie it all up, there's a 90 or 100 minute film. Therefore nothing is "damaged." You have the existing cast and crew. You have the existing production block (perhaps with some alterations). If they did it in 2013 with the 50th anniversary, I don't see why they couldn't do something similar with a theatrical film.

It'll involve some planning and some rejiggering, but it could work. Keep the budget low and make it maybe in the same ballpark as Day of the Doctor (maybe a little bigger), and the money will roll in.

Keep Hollywood out of it if you have to. Do it as BBC Films.

And if it makes a ton of money, that just means it finances more Doctor Who, ensuring the future of the property.

 

[ATimson]

It's easy...if you're going to do a movie, make plans to structure the series to lead up to a big event. Say, for argument's sake, the Doctor finding Gallifrey or whatever else. The TV show spends a series leading up to it, but instead of a Special episode to tie it all up, there's a 90 or 100 minute film. Therefore nothing is "damaged." You have the existing cast and crew. You have the existing production block (perhaps with some alterations). If they did it in 2013 with the 50th anniversary, I don't see why they couldn't do something similar with a theatrical film.

I'm pretty sure that's a massive violation of the BBC's rules, that you can't require the audience to go out and spend money to understand/finish the story.

 

[The Wormhole]

Yeah, doing a theatrical film which is vital to the show's storyline violates the whole license fee thing, I would think.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

You have the existing cast and crew. You have the existing production block (perhaps with some alterations). If they did it in 2013 with the 50th anniversary, I don't see why they couldn't do something similar with a theatrical film.

ATimson and The Wormhole have pointed out the license fee problems.

I'm going to point out the production problem.

Film is not shot as fast as television. If television shoots about six to eight pages a day, film shoots about two or three. You can't just take a two week Doctor Who production block and make a 90 minute film; on a two-week production block you'd end up with about twenty, twenty-five minutes of footage.