Written by: Michael Hickerson
With the fourth series of “Doctor Who” completing its run in the United States last Friday, many fans are wondering just what the future will hold for everyone’s favorite Time Lord. The Doctor’s future holds many question on what is to come with a new producer coming on board for the 2010 season and the continued swirling questions of how long will David Tennant remain in the role.
A recent report had Tennant being offered one and a half million pounds by the BBC to stay with the role for another full season. Speculation on Tennant’s depature has been rampant in British tabloids almost from the first time he donned the mantle as the Doctor and it continues to be a constant source of speculation. Tennant will neither confirm nor deny any rumors, though the fact that the BBC is willing to take a year off from making an entire series of new “Who” to allow the actor to star in “Hamlet” with the Royal Shakespeare Company may be a good indication of the actor’s value to the series and the BBC.
Julie Gardner, one of the executive producers of “Doctor Who” said that Tennant has told BBC executives his decision, but so far she “isn’t privy” to the decision.Â
In-coming producer Steven Moffatt said, “Don’t waste your time with the question.”
Moffatt did say that the series is an important one for the BBC, becoming a flagship franchise for the network not only in England but also around the world.Â
“It’s a massive brand, that’s what it is,” Moffat said. “No use pretending — it’s not art house, it’s not even authored, in a way. It’s a big massive brand, a BBC brand, the most important show.”
Looking forward to his era as producer, Moffatt said he is looking to take the show to darker and scarier places, possibly along the lines of one of the original series’ golden ages with producer Phillip Hinchcliffe and script-editor Robert Holmes running the show.
“If people are worried that because I’m taking over “Doctor Who” it’s going to be really, really frightening, well then… tough,†he said.
Moffatt went on to say, “”Doctor Who is at its best when it’s brand new and you’ve always got to remember that there’s a new bunch of eight-year-olds watching every year and it has to be original – it has to belong to them.”
And while Moffatt respects the show’s long, rich history, he says that he wants to keep moving forward and not have the series become over-stuffed with continuity winks.
“We’re not in the business of being nostalgic, we’re making nostalgia for the future, new monsters, new friends,” he said.
Moffatt’s new vision for the series means that fans won’t be seeing Rose, played by Billie Piper, on screen again soon, if ever. Speaking to a crowd at ComicCon, Moffatt said that Rose was “a slightly needy girlfriend” and that her storyline on the show was completed.
“He tried leaving her in a parallel universe and that didn’t work!†Moffatt said.
Moffatt is also reported to be wanting to pull back from a heavy reliance on the Doctor’s oldest adversaries the Daleks. The pepperpot shaped monsters have figured into each of the first four series of the revived series with three of the four season finales involving them.
It will be at least a year before we see what Moffatt has in mind for the Doctor and where his vision of the show will lead. “Doctor Who” will produced a series of specials for 2009 and return with the fifth series in 2010.
virginia says
I LOVE Steven Moffatt!! Just knowing that Rose is gone for good is enough of a reason to love the man. As if his scripts were not reason enough. But he’s going to actually move the show forward. Stop relying on the Daleks (which were poorly done by RTD) and nostalgia and bring in new characters and bad guys for the Doctor. YAY!!! As a long time Who fan, this makes me very happy.
Now if David Tennant will stay, I will be even happier. 🙂
Bronzethumb (from Australia) says
Oh god, the Vast Toffee said the exact things I was hoping to hear! Less Daleks, darker stories, no uber-continuity fan-wankery episodes, and new monsters! Russell T Davies should’ve put some effort into creating a new recurring villain rather than falling back on the old ones.
Kyle Nin says
Will the U.S. see any of those 2009 specials?
Jerry Bindas says
Ok..I don’t mind taking the series forward..I like the idea of new monsters and species as well..though I personally would like to see Rose brought back..I think that character interacts well with the Doctor..I think its sad we may not see her again…
Hotmetal says
I do wish that you would stop reporting that David Tennant wanted a year off and the BBC changed its plans to accommodate him. The enforced break is caused by BBC budget cuts and David Tenant took the time available to play Hamelet.
The BBC is funded by every household in the UK who can receive a BBC television by what ever means buying a TV License. This is effectively a tax to watch TV, but it does mean we have 4 main TV Channels, 5 radio stations plus local radio, digital radio, a High Definition TV channel and a children’s tv channel that can be viewed without any commercials interrupting the programs. The government set the cost of the TV license and the BBC did not get the rise they wanted for next year. As there were two production units in Cardiff, Wales, one making Dr Who and the other making Sarah Jane adventures and Torchwood. The cost was too high for next year to support two so they have been reduced to one hence the cut down number DR Who episodes and Torchwood being only 5 episodes next season as well. Hopefully things will be better by 2010
Enur says
It seems Rose is currently working as a call-girl in the London area.
Michael Hickerson says
I’m thankful that Moffatt has decided that Rose is gone for good. I liked her but her time has come and gone on the show. The original series had companions come and go all the time and it’s just part of the show. The only constant is the TARDIS and even the design of it (internally) has changed and been tweaked over the years.
BabylonLurker says
I certainly look forward to Steven Moffat taking the helm of Doctor Who.
His contribution to “New Who” has been some of the best I have seen. I just hope he will keep his own writing in check, since the running of the show will take a considerable amount of his time away from writing.