News J Michael Straczynski is interested in Doctor Who showrunner

[Romulan_spy]

Last month, Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski threw his hat into the ring to become the new Doctor Who showrunner, tweeting his interest in replacing Chris Chibnall when the latter steps down in 2022.

And now Straczynski has issued an update on the situation, revealing that contact has been made with the BBC about the soon-to-be vacancy for Doctor Who showrunner.

Replying to a fan who asked what the situation was on Twitter, he wrote, “Contact with the BBC has been made. They’re going through their own process, which began before my tweet, and that has to run its course, but if those don’t pan out and there’s a discussion to be had, they will reach out.”

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-f...straczynski-contact-bbc-showrunner-newsupdate

I am definitely intrigued. Babylon 5 is one of my favorite scifi shows of all time. J Michael Straczynski (JMS) crafted the long story arc for that show. It could be really interesting if JMS crafted a consistent story arc for Doctor Who that spanned several seasons.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Yeah, this was talked about in the series 12 thread awhile back.

 

[The Wormhole]

I'll be very surprised if this happens. Go ahead and bookmark this post, I'll dine on crow if it does indeed happen, but I don't expect it to.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Yeah, the general consensus before was that the showrunner has already been selected as Chibnall's successor. Plus there's the question of whether the BBC would even let an American run the show.

 

[zarkon]

I am definitely intrigued. Babylon 5 is one of my favorite scifi shows of all time. J Michael Straczynski (JMS) crafted the long story arc for that show. It could be really interesting if JMS crafted a consistent story arc for Doctor Who that spanned several seasons.

Doctor Who wise, I'm more hyped by his writing on Real Ghostbusters to be honest. Dude knew how to scare kids.

Yeah, the general consensus before was that the showrunner has already been selected as Chibnall's successor. Plus there's the question of whether the BBC would even let an American run the show.

We still don't know who penned that reply to Joe Hill lol
Hopefully it was Chibnall and it's no longer an issue.

 

[StCoop]

They're being polite to him because he's a successful producer and Oscar nominated writer but yeah, there's zero chance of it happening.

 

[valkyrie013]

Part of me would like to see this to happen, another part doesn't really want to see it..
Maybe a writer in the series?

 

[Starkers]

Part of me would like to see this to happen, another part doesn't really want to see it..
Maybe a writer in the series?

The prevailing thinking seems to be that the BBC have already got someone lined up, and even if they haven't I suspect they'd want someone with UK production experience. Never say never though and I agree, it'd be cool if what came out of this was the BBC inviting him to write an episode (or two). Always assuming he'd be interested in that.

 

[StCoop]

The prevailing thinking seems to be that the BBC have already got someone lined up, and even if they haven't I suspect they'd want someone with UK production experience. Never say never though and I agree, it'd be cool if what came out of this was the BBC inviting him to write an episode (or two). Always assuming he'd be interested in that.

At least they seem to have learned from their Joe Hill experience and haven't just told him to sod off.

 

[The Wormhole]

Realistically, if they expect to meet a fall 2023 premiere date for the new season (which I believe is what they said in the announcement for Chibnall and Whittaker leaving?) than, yeah, someone's alreay been selected, just not publicly announced yet for whatever reason.

 

[Starkers]

At least they seem to have learned from their Joe Hill experience and haven't just told him to sod off.

Do we know if the person who issued the response to Hill still has a job? I mean stuff of Hill's I've read has underwhelmed me somewhat, but he is a big name, and even if he wasn't why on Earth wouldn't they let an American write an episode of Who?

 

[Mr Awe]

Rumors suggest that the BBC has given JMS a polite "no." Some have taken tweets by Chibnall to indicate that a new showrunner has not been chosen yet. These tweets (IIRC) are his thoughts about qualities that would make a good showrunner. And also tweets about something to do with BBC studios and the BBC having to decide on the direction to go for the showrunner. (I don't follow this stuff too closely so the specifics are long gone!)

But some are thinking that DW will be rested for a bit after the 60th anniversary while they get an entirely new production team together, including finding a new showrunner.

 

[The Wormhole]

Some have taken tweets by Chibnall to indicate that a new showrunner has not been chosen yet. These tweets (IIRC) are his thoughts about qualities that would make a good showrunner. And also tweets about something to do with BBC studios and the BBC having to decide on the direction to go for the showrunner.

I think you might be referring to what this article talks about in which Chibnall explains he is not involved in the selection of the new showrunner, but rather that will be handled by BBC Studios and the highest authorities at the BBC itself.

I find it rather odd if there really were people who thought Chibnall had involvement in choosing the next showrunner. Moffat didn't choose him to take over, nor was Moffat chosen by RTD.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Also, Straczynski noted on twitter that he did, indeed, try in earnest to get in touch with the proper higher ups at the BBC.

Anyway. Sounds way too good to be true, but I'd love to see it happen.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I'm also in the camp that the BBC already has someone else in mind as the next showrunner. I'm inclined to think that person has been involved in the production of a couple or more Doctor Who episodes already (either under Chibnall, Moffat, or maybe even Davies).

 

[BillJ]

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-f...straczynski-contact-bbc-showrunner-newsupdate

I am definitely intrigued. Babylon 5 is one of my favorite scifi shows of all time. J Michael Straczynski (JMS) crafted the long story arc for that show. It could be really interesting if JMS crafted a consistent story arc for Doctor Who that spanned several seasons.

That would be a train wreck.

 

[DigificWriter]

Rumors suggest that the BBC has given JMS a polite "no." Some have taken tweets by Chibnall to indicate that a new showrunner has not been chosen yet. These tweets (IIRC) are his thoughts about qualities that would make a good showrunner. And also tweets about something to do with BBC studios and the BBC having to decide on the direction to go for the showrunner. (I don't follow this stuff too closely so the specifics are long gone!)

But some are thinking that DW will be rested for a bit after the 60th anniversary while they get an entirely new production team together, including finding a new showrunner.

I really doubt that JMS would infer or imply that there might be an opening for further discussion if there weren't.

 

[Mudd]

I really doubt that JMS would infer or imply that there might be an opening for further discussion if there weren't.

And why would anyone doubt that? Not paying attention?

 

[David cgc]

Yeah, I don't have any problems with JMS, but to put it mildly, he's never had a problem with hyping himself up as part of his hustle, going all the way back to promoting Babylon 5 on the early internet while he was pitching it to studios.

 

[DigificWriter]

And why would anyone doubt that? Not paying attention?

@Mr Awe said that rumors say that the BBC told JMS "No" flat-out, and yet we have JMS indicating that the possibility of future/further discussion is still open.

Hence my comment from before.

IOW, if the BBC had straight-up told JMS"No", I believe that he would've said so.