Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner

Discussion in 'Doctor Who' started by Allyn Gibson, Sep 24, 2021.

  1. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    You can come down off that cross any time now.
     
  2. Brendan Moody

    Brendan Moody Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I’ve been thinking for a while about the in-universe year of these specials. Not that they’re actually paying attention to this in the production office, but… The casting call for Rose said she was 15. Donna left the Doctor in mid-2009 (given the year ahead thing), so the earliest her marriage to Shaun in “The End of Time” could take place is Spring 2010. For Rose to be 15 (and if she’s Donna and Shaun’s biological child), the setting for the new specials would have to be 2025 or later. But I’m sure they’re just running with the year of broadcast.
     
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  3. jaime

    jaime Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I have to admit that’s been bugging me too. Largely because it makes me feel old. (It’s one thing having the actor playing the Doctor be younger than yourself, another for a companion to have teenaged kids…)

    Also, granted she has parental permission to head off travelling if she becomes a companion, but I think fifteen would be a bit young to suggest ‘it’s a good age to head off round the universe’ these days… seventeen is about the youngest a Companion should be, ideally a bit older than that.
    (Note that when a younger kid travelled with Capaldi for one ep, it was basically a ‘school trip’ with Clara In Loco Parentis)

    Things you don’t think about when you’re a kid and just dream a battered blue box would materialise in your bedroom, but do when you are an adult and parent yourself. (Which RTD got bang on when Jackie Tyler was ready to slap Rose and The Doctor.)
     
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  4. The Nth Doctor

    The Nth Doctor Infinite Possibilities... Premium Member

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    She does?
     
  5. jaime

    jaime Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Well, Donna and Wilf at least know the Doctor. As opposed to just ending up a ‘missing’ poster on Wimbledon common.
     
  6. David cgc

    David cgc Admiral Premium Member

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    Well, casting descriptions are always fairly loose. I remember when the casting calls went out for Star Trek '09, people losing their shit because the characters' ages were wrong for the (rumored) timeframe of the film. "15" is probably code for "we want someone who's over 18 but looks younger so we can say they're a teenager while having them work full-time."
     
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  7. Brendan Moody

    Brendan Moody Vice Admiral Admiral

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    It says something like “seeking a 17 or 18 year old to play a 15 year old,” IIRC. The point is that at the time of broadcast Donna’s child would be markedly younger than Rose actually will be.
     
  8. jaime

    jaime Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Which means it must be…. Dun dun dun… set in the future. Conspiracy fuel!
     
  9. Tuskin38

    Tuskin38 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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  10. dupersuper

    dupersuper Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Is he related to Dog Welder?
     
  11. diankra

    diankra Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Capatilist frog who was a recurring villain in the comics.
     
  12. StCoop

    StCoop Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    A snippet from the new DWM. Russell's return was in the works for nearly a year before it was announced* and it sounds like the Lockdown events organised by Emily Cook played a part in getting him interested in coming back.

    [​IMG]

    *Just a reminder: Chibnall didn't find out until a week before the rest of us.
     
  13. Haggis and tatties

    Haggis and tatties Vice Admiral Admiral

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    ^^^Good things come to those who wait. Lol
     
  14. Mr Awe

    Mr Awe Vice Admiral Admiral

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    That's pretty frigging hilarious actually . . . or sad. Matt Strevens said at Gallifrey One last February that he wasn't informed until the night before the RTD announcement went public. Further, he said that Chibnall's production team had come to assume that there wasn't going to be any DW after they ended because they hadn't heard anything about a successor! There was no one to receive the baton.

    Talk about being kept out of the loop! If that detail proves to be true (not evident in the snippet), I'd imagine they're feeling pretty burned.
     
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  15. The Nth Doctor

    The Nth Doctor Infinite Possibilities... Premium Member

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    Damn, that does suck.

    No wonder Chibnall has been less engaged with the press in the past year. Will people finally give him some fucking slack already or will they just say he deserved this treatment?
     
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  16. Mr Awe

    Mr Awe Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I'm honestly puzzled about that bad treatment (if it is in fact true--I have not read the DWM). I don't see how that benefits anyone. Totally unjustified.
     
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  17. Richard S. Ta

    Richard S. Ta Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I remember previous statements from Chibnall along the lines of they'd been throwing batons at people and finally RTD caught one... Maybe not deliberately but the whole thing was kind of framed as RTD swooping in at the last moment to rescue the show...

    Strange to hear now that this was planned much earlier than we thought. Confusing again to hear on the one hand that Chibnall had been actively "throwing batons" at people and apparently completely out of the loop. Saying that it's weird that RTD and Chibnall are friends, both connected to Doctor Who, but that RTD didn't tell Chibnall. Usually you hear of things like Davies/Moffat/Chibnall giving each other tidbits.

    Also, I wonder how DWM had any bearing on it?

    There's certainly a story to be told in 2023 as RTD says.
     
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  18. StCoop

    StCoop Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    The speculation is that getting involved with the Lockdown events organised by Emily Cook from DWM, including writing new stuff for the first time since he left, sparked his interest in coming back.
     
  19. ATimson

    ATimson Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    NDAs apply to friends too.
     
  20. Richard S. Ta

    Richard S. Ta Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I guess so.

    Chibnall only finding out a week before from the Beeb though... It's not like he's one of those guys that's always mouthing off to the press. The opposite in fact.

    Like RTD said, there's an interesting tale to be told in 2023.