Glitch turns Dr Who into Dr When
- Publication: London Evening Standard
- Date: 1999-11-11
- Author: Sarah Shannon
- Page: 17
- Language: English
IT'S A FUNNY business this time travel. Just when it seemed Doctor Who was zooming into the future with a new Hollywood film, the project has stalled and he has been yanked back into a theme night by the BBC.
More than a year ago, the BBC decided to tap into the popularity of the Time Lord and opened talks with an independent production company about a new Doctor Who film.
Impact Pictures produced a treatment for the movie which was favourably received by the corporation. Even better, Impact brought to the negotiating table Artisan Entertainment, the distribution company which worked a miracle promoting The Blair Witch Project.
But now, Impact and the BBC have parted over unspecified "disagreements". Jeremy Bolt, head of Impact, said: "I think it's very sad because I'm sure we would have made a very good film."
The BBC said it is still in talks with other companies over a film and the project has not been cancelled for good.
Gary Gillatt, editor of Doctor Who Magazine, said: "I think the problem might have come from the fact that the BBC wants final approval on script and casting and if American companies are putting money in, they want control."
A BBC and Fox coproduction in 1996 created a 90-minute TV film starring Paul McGann, but that was not considered a success. Ratings were not high enough in the US for Fox TV to think of commissioning a new series.
Plans to resurrect the Doctor Who series on the BBC have also failed to come to fruition. But even though the last episode was broadcast in 1989, the Doctor retains a huge following.
All is not lost for fans, however. Next Saturday, BBC2 is broadcasting a Doctor Who theme night presented by Tom Baker who played the fourth Time Lord.
It will include recollections of memorable foes from the Daleks to the Cybermen, and a screening of the first ever episode from 1964, starring William Hartnell.
Paul McGann: his feature-length Dr Who failed to make an impact with fans
Tom Baker: to present BBC theme night
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- APA 6th ed.: Shannon, Sarah (1999-11-11). Glitch turns Dr Who into Dr When. London Evening Standard p. 17.
- MLA 7th ed.: Shannon, Sarah. "Glitch turns Dr Who into Dr When." London Evening Standard [add city] 1999-11-11, 17. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Shannon, Sarah. "Glitch turns Dr Who into Dr When." London Evening Standard, edition, sec., 1999-11-11
- Turabian: Shannon, Sarah. "Glitch turns Dr Who into Dr When." London Evening Standard, 1999-11-11, section, 17 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Glitch turns Dr Who into Dr When | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Glitch_turns_Dr_Who_into_Dr_When | work=London Evening Standard | pages=17 | date=1999-11-11 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=21 November 2024 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Glitch turns Dr Who into Dr When | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Glitch_turns_Dr_Who_into_Dr_When | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=21 November 2024}}</ref>
