For the upcoming San Diego Comic Con, outgoing “Doctor Who” producer Russell T. Davies has elusive promised that he would make an big announcement regarding the series. Given the fact that actor David Tennant will be making the jump across the pond to join Davies on the panel, it doesn’t take too much to connect the dots and assume that the long-awaited “Doctor Who” movie could be announced at this year’s ComicCon. And it’s also be an easy jump to assume that David Tennant would be starring in the film, which might be penned and/or produced by Davies.
As a long-time “Doctor Who” fan, I suppose I should be excited about the potential of seeing the good Doctor on the big-screen. We haven’t had a “Doctor Who” movie since the Peter Cushing films on the 60’s (both of which are retellings of two early Dalek stories) and the prospect of an original “Doctor Who” feature should fill me with glee, joy and unparalleled geek love.
And yet, I can honestly say it doesn’t.
Why do you ask?
Because I fear that a “Doctor Who” movie with David Tennant in the lead as the Doctor will only serve to marganilize the upcoming era of the 11th Doctor. Incoming producer Steven Moffat has promised a show that will be a bit darker when the 11th Doctor comes into the role–something the show desparately needs. I’ve made no secret that I prefer any script Moffat has written to the best of Davies, so the thought of him being given the reigns to shape the series in his vision is something that makes me want to squeal in geek joy.
And yet, I have a feeling that this new, darker vision of “Doctor Who” is going to get lost in the shuffle. In a lot of ways, I find myself wondering if the new era of “Who” will get overlooked by some fans in the same way that some “Star Trek” fans overlooked “Deep Space Nine” during its seven-year run on television.
Easily the best of the modern “Trek”s, “DS9” was consistently overlooked in favor of the more high profile movie projects featuring the “Next Gen” crew and the launch of “Voyager.” Even when “DS9” was running circles around a lot of other genre shows (at the time, only “The X-Files” and “Babylon Five” were consistently in the same league as “DS9”) and a lot of conventional television series, it was widely ignored by critics and never really got the due it deserved. Looking back, “DS9” is still like the red-headed stepchild of the “Trek” universe.
To paraphrase Rodney Dangerfield, it just don’t get no respect.
Which is exactly what could happen to the Matt Smth era of “Doctor Who.” In a lot of ways, Smith already has the decked hugely stacked against him. In poll after poll, David Tennant easily wins the fans hearts as their favorite Doctor, so Smith has big shoes to fill there. Tennant inhabited the role for four years and three seasons plus a series of specials. In a lot of people’s minds, Tennant is the Doctor in much the same way that Tom Baker was the Doctor in the 70s. Add to it that Smith comes in during a behind-the-scenes regime change and with a new companion and that’s a lot to ovecome in winning the fandom over.
So the idea of a movie featuring Tennant doesn’t seem to help things. It could end up overshadowing Smith and his start on the show. And it could end up dividing the fandom–well, even more than it already is. (If you want to see a good arguement, go on any “Who” message board and write that you like the Sylvester McCoy era.)
I’m not against a “Doctor Who” movie, per se. But I think the timing could have been a bit better–assuming it is a movie we’re getting in the near future. Surely the year long hiatus would have been a better slot for the movie. And while I don’t think that a movie as David Tennant’s last hurrah would have been a good idea (making fans pay to see the continuing storyline isn’t always the best idea….see “The X-Files”), it might have been more fun to see the program’s resources put into one solid movie idea rather than the two specials we’ve got so far.
Of course, a lot of my misgivings about this movie is that Davies is invovled and possibly writing it. As former script-editor Christopher H. Bidmead recently told “Doctor Who Magazine” Davies has a lot of great first-draft ideas. It’s just too bad that he never appears to do any re-writes–especially later in the season as the demands of being producer start to catch up with him.
I could, hopefully, be surprised though. And I’m hoping I will be. I was dead-set against a “Star Trek” reboot and it worked beautifully. Maybe the same will happen here.
I just hope it does and that it doesn’t overshadow the hard work that Moffat, Smith and company will be putting into continuing the phenomonal success “Doctor Who” has been for the past several years.
Chris says
Hmm, difficult to know on this one. Am struggling to see how they will fit it in timeline wise unless they make it a film that has both Smith and Tennant in it like they did with the specials back in the old days. Anything else will just be seen as an ‘interuption’ to the series. I’m not sure how ‘crowded’ Tennant’s diary is, but I would struggle to see how they could get something out before the start of the series with Smith taking the lead and the specials over the christmas period (spoiler alert for those who don’t know what is planned!?!) are meant to be dealing with the regeneration. As said, if not looked at carefully, it could become messy!
Jen says
I love David Tennant, and he is my favorite Doctor, but I don’t think I’d want to see a movie of Who with him in it. Or at least, not just him alone. I want a multi-doctor story like they always used to do. Even if it was just him and Smith and maybe Peter Davison? I’d be completely up for that any day!
I hope that Smith does a good job, but I don’t think he should try too hard to be better than Tennant. Doing that might ruin it all for him. And I think that the differences between each Doctor are what makes the series so good, so that should be what’s important here, IMO.
Jason says
I don’t think tis entirely fair to pan Matt Smith yet because I wasn’t too hot on David Tennant when Christopher Eccleston departed but David Tennant made such a strong first impression and continued with that I quickly got over it. Apparently most fans did as well so this time around I am giving Matt Smith the benefit of the doubt. Not on that, David Moffat is running the show and will no doubt provide the actor(s) with a wealth of good material.
While I love David Tennant as The Doctor I don’t want a movie with his Doctor because as you said, it would over shadow the 11th Doctor and thats not very helpful. Not to mention, I think Rusell T. Davies is a decent writer he is not as good as David Moffat. Personally I would like to see a movie about the last days of The Time War. Possibly with Paul Mcgann who would regenerate into Christopher Eccleston at the end. Though there are probably a myriade of logistical reasons that may never be.
Bottom line is, I don’t think a big screen movie with David Tennant as The Doctor would be good for the show. However if there is to be one then I will definately watch.
-Jayson
Lambo says
Michael,
I understand your concerns, but I really don’t share them. It is hard to gauge what may or may not happen when:
(A) There has be no official announcement of a movie.
(B) We have not seen Matt Smith act.
There were a lot of “Who in hell is that?” questions asked when Tennant was announced he would be taking the role.
With all due respect to the other writer’s on Doctor Who, Stephen Moffat proved he is the best of all of them. Also, his other shows have also been great.
I think Moffat’s writing and experience, the TV show will be in great hands. The show will live or die based on the writing.
If you are concerned about RTD writing the movie, he has been hit or miss on Doctor Who. However, it seems to me when RTD writes with set parameters, his writing improves. I have watched the first three episodes of series 3 of Torchwood, and it has been brilliant thus far.
I really doubt the movie will out shine the series. Don’t forget, there have been various Star Trek movies come out while various versions of a TV series was still airing. Those shows did well or bad based on the writing, not because a new movie is out.
So, I think it just comes down to the writing of both the series and if a movie is produced.
Lambo
Tammy Smith says
It won’t overshadow the 11th Doctor! I would actually be more willing to watch Matt Smith on TV if we could still see David Tennant as the movie Doctor. I have actually found myself resenting Smith because he will be the reason I won’t see Tennant anymore. Keeping Tennant on removes my reason for resenting Smith, & I can judge Eleven more fairly. I think that other Tennant fans would probably react the same way. It makes it easier for us if Tennant doesn’t completely stop playing the Doctor. And anyway, there is always more than one Doctor out there. Big Finish does audios featuring past Doctors. No one ever said that those audios were hurting Tennant.
Night Marshal says
Matt Smith seems well suited to take on the role of the Doctor but the prolonged death throws of Tennant have really left to much time for the Doctor Who community to much time to think about the change. I think the reason a David Tennant movie would likely to go forward is because there are a lot new Doctor Who fan have not reacted well to the news of David Tennant leaving the show since they haven’t lived through a Doctor moving on. And Doctor Who movie would be a good way to help mend the hearts of those fans. That said the world is big enough for two doctors and I think Matt Smith will be in the role long enough to weather one Tennant movie.
Robin says
I don’t know that now is the time for a new Who movie, but if they do make one, I’d much prefer to see McGann and/or Eccleston in a Time War story. It seems like a big enough story to justify putting on the big screen.
@Tammy: “I have actually found myself resenting Smith because he will be the reason I won’t see Tennant anymore.”
That’s rather unfair. The reason you won’t be seeing David Tennant as the Doctor anymore is that Tennant chose to end his run, just litke Eccleston before him. He wasn’t forced out like some of his predecessors in the 80s. Resenting Matt Smith before he’s even started for being deemed good enough to take over the role by the producers? That’s a bit silly.
(P.S. @Michael: I do like the Sylvester McCoy era. Or, at least, I’m kind of in love with Ace. A hot-headed girl with a bomber jacket, stompy boots, and a backpack full of high explosives? That’s my kind of companion. 😀 )
Bill from Albuquerque says
This is not the first time that the Doctor has shown up on the big screen. Everyone who is old enough to remember seems to have forgotten the 2 Dalek movies done in the late ’60’s with Christopher Lee as the Doctor while Patrick Troughton was still playing the Doctor (he’s the second one) on TV and it didn’t hurt him.
And this is also not the first time throughout the 46 years of Doctor Who that the actor playing the Doctor has chosen to leave. William Hartnell (the first Doctor) left for health reasons, Patrick Troughton left while he was still popular as the Doctor, Jon Pertwee (the third Doctor) left for unspecified reasons, Tom Baker (the 4th Doctor) quit during his seventh season, and Colin Baker (the 6th Doctor) only lasted on TV for less than 2 full seasons because of contract issues with the BBC as the story went at the time.
This is not new for those of us who have been watching all of the Doctors over the years. The only differences a new Doctor Who movie would bring would be special effects and how dark they want to take either the Doctor or his companion.
Michel Daw says
Perhaps this IS the transition. This is when we will see the regeneration of Tennant to Smith. And instead of overshadowing the 11th doctor, it will launch him.
Russ says
hey bill you have your actors wrong it was peter cushing not chris lee that played the doctor also bernard cribbins starred in it
Bob Singer says
What is the fascination for “darker” heroes? Do you not understand what heroes are? This change from the Clean and Good Heroic person to the dark and tortured hero disgusts me. From Batman to Spiderman, to Star Trek, now to Doctor Who some fans are turning the hero into the villian, without even seeing it themselves. DS9 was ignored by many fans like me because it wasn’t Star Trek, that show about exploring new worlds and helping people in trouble. It was Babylon 5, but worse. It stank. And like your stinky cousin at the family reunion, you avoid it without saying bad things. Keep the Doctor light. He needs to be the guy who travels in time to help mend the timeline, not get the angst out of his soul…
Michael Hickerson says
Responding to many of the comments here…
Bob–the Doctor can be a darker character. Look at Troughton (the 2nd Doctor is VERY manipulative but he’s subtle about it) and McCoy . I am not saying he goes and becomes full on evil, but I think some shades of gray would work. Even Tennant shows that from time to time…and it’s something I wish we’d seen more of.
As DS9 not being “real” Trek, we disagree. It embraced the spirit of working together but put in a context of people who may not always like each other and had different world views that didn’t always mesh. But they came together to work when it was needed….and I far prefer the conflict be dealt with than ignored along the lines of Voyager, where you had two very radically different world views that shouldn’t mesh as easily as they did, but the whole Starfleet/Maquis conflict is forgotten by mid-way in season two.
I’m still concerned about the potential movie…the timing seems really off on it. One thing JN-T did right was when Tom baker left, the series moved forward with Peter Davison. I like Tennant and I want Matt Smith to do well….I want to see the Moffat era as incredible as I hope it can be. I just don’t want it to get overshadowed or overlooked–maybe not by fans, but by the press. One thing I’ve noticed about Moffat so far is he’s far less out there and promoting the series or leaking info to the fans and/or media. We only get scraps of news like who the new companion is and that the Daleks may be in the first episode to help the transition . That’s good and bad…good because we will have more surprises but bad because it may lower the profile of Doctor Who a bit…
Brian Brown says
Mm.. I’m with Robin. Sylvester McCoy is still my favorite doctor and Ace my favorite companion. 😉
Richard in Macon GA aka "Mainframe" says
Given the history of the Doctor teaming up with other incarnations of himself, a movie could be done with David and still include Matt. My ideal Dr. Who movie would be a team up with the last four Doctors (including Matt) focused on the Time War.
dallace says
PEOPLE ! I’m sure that if a movie is happening (hope hope) that Matt Smith knew about it BEFORE HE SIGNED A CONTRACT ! quit worrying about him. series 5 and the 11th doctor will be great ! a movie with the 10th doctor would be amazing ! can’t get enough Doctor Who !!!
steve muhs says
have a movie that feature all surviving doctors,something like the three doctors, and regenerate 10th doctor half way through movie into new 11th doctor
Saltlines says
I think Who just needs to let go of Tennant. Yeah, he was cute, and yeah, he had some good moments, but honestly, he’s getting boring.
What would make a fantastic movie would be Christopher Eccleston back as nine for the Fall of Arcadia. (Yeah, yeah, timeline discrepancy, but come on? What’s one more?)
And under no circumstances should RTD be allowed anywhere NEAR the movie.
Amelia says
I think David Tennant needs to be the doctor in the movie. Tennant is the best doctor ever . I will be watching the new season when Matt smith comes out as the doctor. I will miss Tennant as the doctor.