This is pure speculation on my part, but I think the signs are getting clear that after the Christmas special is filmed this fall, Doctor Who production might not ramp up again until maybe the spring of 2012. Here's where my logic lies (one spoiler ahead):
Karen Gillan revealed at Comic Con that she's coming back next year, yet she's now been booked for October-November to do a play in the West End AND it has just been announced that she's starring in a comedy film being shot "late 2011-early 2012" according to the Belfast Telegraph. I think another media outlet narrowed it down to January.
That takes Karen out of commission for much of what we'd normally consider Doctor Who's regular production time. The Kasterborous news site is speculating this may mean that Karen won't be a regular next season.
But there's a bit of news that people have forgotten. The BBC has built a new studio in Cardiff. It was reported here and elsewhere that Doctor Who (and, before fate intervened, Sarah Jane) were going to move from their current studios at Upper Boat to the new facility in 2012.
I can't see them moving in the midst of production of a season. The last time they moved, out of the Newport studio, a huge deal was made of the fact the TARDIS set had to be rebuilt. It's gonna be no different when they move from Upper Boat to Cardiff.
Third factor - the semantics have yet to play out, but if they're saying "some episodes in 2012, some in 2013" that says to me another split season, with half in the fall of 2012, hiatus over Christmas (with or without a special in the meantime), the remainder in the late winter of 2013. Sort of like what US TV does now, with fewer episodes. If that's the case, there's no need for production to begin in the fall of 2011 for something that won't air for a year (or more if the BBC decides to give us two full seasons in 2013 as an anniversary prezzie).
I think after they shoot the Christmas special they're going to stand down, relocate at Roath Lock (that's the name of the new studio), and start fresh next spring. If that's the case, I think we can lay off the fear and loathing that Karen (or Matt) are suddenly leaving everytime we read that they've been signed to do a movie or a play. Heck, even if they sign up for a TV series it won't matter (just look at Chris Barrie who balanced Red Dwarf and Brittas Empire for years). We don't know what's up with Arthur Darvill yet, but it leaves the door open for him, too, since the timing of his play isn't going to mess anything up either.
I could be off base completely. Maybe someone has seen a news report headlined "Doctor Who studio move cancelled" that I missed. And my timing falls apart if we hear that the studio move took place after Season 6 wrapped (though you'd think we'd have heard and there's the matter of the mini-episode that was filmed with the students a short while ago). It's all guesswork, but it makes sense to me.
Alex
Karen Gillan revealed at Comic Con that she's coming back next year, yet she's now been booked for October-November to do a play in the West End AND it has just been announced that she's starring in a comedy film being shot "late 2011-early 2012" according to the Belfast Telegraph. I think another media outlet narrowed it down to January.
That takes Karen out of commission for much of what we'd normally consider Doctor Who's regular production time. The Kasterborous news site is speculating this may mean that Karen won't be a regular next season.
But there's a bit of news that people have forgotten. The BBC has built a new studio in Cardiff. It was reported here and elsewhere that Doctor Who (and, before fate intervened, Sarah Jane) were going to move from their current studios at Upper Boat to the new facility in 2012.
I can't see them moving in the midst of production of a season. The last time they moved, out of the Newport studio, a huge deal was made of the fact the TARDIS set had to be rebuilt. It's gonna be no different when they move from Upper Boat to Cardiff.
Third factor - the semantics have yet to play out, but if they're saying "some episodes in 2012, some in 2013" that says to me another split season, with half in the fall of 2012, hiatus over Christmas (with or without a special in the meantime), the remainder in the late winter of 2013. Sort of like what US TV does now, with fewer episodes. If that's the case, there's no need for production to begin in the fall of 2011 for something that won't air for a year (or more if the BBC decides to give us two full seasons in 2013 as an anniversary prezzie).
I think after they shoot the Christmas special they're going to stand down, relocate at Roath Lock (that's the name of the new studio), and start fresh next spring. If that's the case, I think we can lay off the fear and loathing that Karen (or Matt) are suddenly leaving everytime we read that they've been signed to do a movie or a play. Heck, even if they sign up for a TV series it won't matter (just look at Chris Barrie who balanced Red Dwarf and Brittas Empire for years). We don't know what's up with Arthur Darvill yet, but it leaves the door open for him, too, since the timing of his play isn't going to mess anything up either.
I could be off base completely. Maybe someone has seen a news report headlined "Doctor Who studio move cancelled" that I missed. And my timing falls apart if we hear that the studio move took place after Season 6 wrapped (though you'd think we'd have heard and there's the matter of the mini-episode that was filmed with the students a short while ago). It's all guesswork, but it makes sense to me.
Alex
