A few weeks ago, we brought you news that the 1996 Fox telemovie/backdoor pilot for “Doctor Who” would finally be getting a U.S. release date.
Now we can tell you when.
TVShowsonDVD.com reports the movie, featuring Paul McGann’s only on-screen appearance as the Doctor will hit stores on February 8th. It’s a two-disc special edition, packed with extras. Fans in the UK can already pick up the two-disc set as part of the “Revisitations” box-set.
Also releasing that day is the Jon Pertwee six-part story, “The Mutants.”
Both will retail for $34.98 each, though you can probably find them for a good discount through most on-line retailers.
Details on the releases are below.
Doctor Who – The Movie: Special Edition (Paul McGann as the 8th Doctor)
The Doctor is returning home to Gallifrey with the remains of his arch-nemesis, the Master. Forced off course, the TARDIS arrives in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve 1999, where the Doctor is critically wounded in a gangland gun battle. At the local hospital, Dr. Grace Holloway fights – and fails – to save his life. Later, in the morgue, the Doctor wakes up a new man. But he is not the only one: the Master has also found himself a new body. As the clock counts down to the start of the new millennium, can the Doctor stop his oldest enemy from destroying all life on Earth?
2 discs, 86 minutes, 1 feature-length “episode”, full frame video, English stereo audio, English subtitles, $34.98 SRP
Audio Commentaries:
* With Director Geoffrey Sax, previously recorded for the 2000 U.K. DVD
* Newly-recorded commentary with Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy, moderated by modern Dalek voice actor Nicholas Briggs
“The Seven Year Hitch” – Documentary about the seven-year quest to return Doctor Who to the screen.
“The Doctor’s Strange Love” – Writers Joe Lidster, Simon Guerrier & comedian Josie Long learn to love the film
Photo Gallery
Music Tracks (Isolated Music Score and 4 Tracks from the Film, in full)
PDF materials: Radio Times Listings
New Production Notes Subtitle Track
Visual FX Tests from June 1994 and March 1996 featuring early opening titles tests and legendary Spider Dalek sampler
Fox Network’s Electronic Press Kit for the movie
1996 Behind-the-Scenes promo
Philip Segal’s Tour of the TARDIS Set
Alternate Takes
BBC Trailers
“Who Peter 1989-2009” – Second and final part of the series, presented by Gethin Jones
“The Wilderness Years” – How the show was kept alive between the end of the original series and the production of the movie
“Stripped for Action: The Eighth Doctor” – A part of the series looking at the comic book stories
“Tomorrow’s Times: The Eighth Doctor” – Another in the series looking at Doctor Who’s contemporary coverage
Easter Eggs (2)
Extras:
Doctor Who – Story #063: The Mutants (Jon Pertwee as The 3rd Doctor)
When the strange message pod turns up at UNIT HQ, the Doctor and his assistant Jo suddenly involved in another dangerous mission for the Time Lords. The TARDIS takes them to Skybase One above the inhospitable Solos. It is the 30th century and the planet is about to gain independence from Earth’s glorious empire. But someone on Solos has other plans and, alarmingly, the natives are slowly evolving into fierce-looking creatures. It’s time for the Doctor and Jo to find out why.
2 discs, 145 minutes, 6 episodes, full frame video, English mono audio, English subtitles, $34.98 SRP
Audio Commentary with cast (Katy Manning, Garrick Hagon) and crew (Christopher Barry, Terrance Dicks, Bob Baker, Jeremy Bear, Broan Hodgson), moderated by modern Dalek operator Nicholas Pegg
“Mutt Mad” – The Making of “The Mutants”
“Race Against Time” – Documentary examining the representation of black actors on British television
Blue Peter segment featuring Peter Purves discussing Doctor Who monsters
“Dressing Doctor Who” – James Acheson discusses his work in Doctor Who
PDF materials: Radio Times Listings
Production Note Subtitles
Bill from Albuquerque says
Now I can complete my DVD collection as I am gathering all of the stories of the first seven Doctors as well as the Animated Doctor Who as voiced by David Tennant. Hopefully 2 entertain and BBC Video can maintain their goal off having all of the stories out by November 22, 2013…..the 50th anniversary of the Doctor on TV.
Joe from CT says
I’m so glad that they are finally getting a dvd of the TV movie out here to the United States. My only problem (As usual with most of the dvd’s) is the price. I don’t shop online (Had a problem the one time I did) so I have to pay almost 40 bucks for one movie. I bought Iron Man 2 for less on the day it came out and it was also a two disk. I also have yet to buy season one of the new series. I don’t know about anywhere else, but it is the same price everywhere I look that I can get to here in CT… That price being between 70 and 80 dollars. Too damn much. I’ve tried bargin bins, and trade in store, and it only drops by about 10 dollars. Oh well.
Michael Hickerson says
I was skeptical we’d ever see this one released on DVD in the U.S. simply due to the rights issues.
But I’m happy it will be coming out.
And Joe from CT, I’d recommend Amazon as a good on-line retailer. I get all my Who DVDs from them and the prices are good. Plus if you buy both, it qualifies for free shipping.
DrWhoFan says
I am glad that they finally are releasing this for the US market. Ironic since it was shown on the Fox network. For years it was available in the UK but the region of the DVD would have resulted in issues in being able to play the movie.
I wonder if they will release a Blu Ray version of the movie as well.