Sci-Fi Storm

This is not confirmed, and the source is The Mirror, but if the bookies have stopped taking bets, something is up…but The Mirror reports that the next Doctor will be actor Kris Marshall, who recently starred in the British series Death In Paradise but recently announced he is leaving the show.

If you’re not familiar with the name, you might be familiar with the face if you’ve ever seen the movie Love Actually…he’s the one that went to America to meet girls.

Yes, this guy.

I’m not sure I can see it but I only really know him from the film, and that certainly isn’t a character I can see as the Doctor, but I’ve been surprised by actors before.

In the trailer posted below, we do see the Doctor start to regenerate – which indicates he will regenerate no later than the end of Series 10 and NOT in the Christmas episode as had been done for Smith and Capaldi, and the Mirror’s source says Marshall had already joined the show.

So take it as you will while we wait with baited breath…

Filming just wrapped on the upcoming season of Doctor Who which debuts this coming Saturday on BBC and BBC America, and it seems a secret was leaked…that John Simm will return to the role of the Master, the actor confirmed.

When we last saw John Simm as the Master (In “The End Of Time” in 2010), he had sacrificed himself in an act of redemption/revenge to close the time lock that held the last days of the Time War including Gallifrey. The character later returned in the form of Missy, played by Michelle Gomez. Apparently, we will have BOTH incarnations on screen.

Showrunner Steven Moffat said, “Nothing stays secret for long on Doctor Who, but you’ll have to wait a little bit longer to see exactly what The Master is up to and how he makes his return to face the Doctor. It’s been a huge pleasure to have fan favorites John Simm and Michelle Gomez face to face in the same role! It’s not often you get to see a solo personality clash.”

He did not specify which episode, but I have a feeling this will be perhaps the finale, as both Moffat and current Doctor Peter Capaldi are set to depart the show.

I think I spied a classic – and I mean classic – Cyberman in there…coming April 15th!

Get to know Bill, the Doctor’s new companion, played by Pearl Mackie…she’ll meet the Doctor on April 15th at 9/8c on BBC America, followed by the spinoff Class.

It’s a long weekend here, so here’s a few more tidbits:

In a conversation with Deadline, BBC America president and GM Sarah Barnett tiptoed around the discussion of who might be the new Doctor to replace Peter Capaldi, but did mention that the Doctor Who spinoff Class, which takes place at the Coal Hill School where there first moments of it’s parent program took place, will debut in the U.S. on April 15th.

On renewals/cancellations, it seems several freshman shows will not survive. Spies have been whispering to us since January that Aftermath will not see a second season and Syfy and SPACE have silently killed the show. Star James Tupper also tweeted, “So sad to report #Aftermath will not be getting a second season. #sobummed”. We were hoping for a renewal and though the ratings and the partnership between Syfy and SPACE would help. No formal pronouncement still, but sadly it seems unlikely.

Also on the bubble are the CW’s Frequency and NBC’s Timeless. Frequency did not have an option to pick up more episodes, leaving the first season at 13, and they did essentially conclude the first season storyline. However, the show is on Netflix now, where it might pick up eyes, but we’re thinking it likely will not return. The Timeless season finale airs tonight, and it’s teetering on the edge. It may depend on what NBC decides on other shows and how many slots are available.

Syfy is still looking for a formula to bring cosplay into the limelight, and it will try again with Cosplay Melee, hosted by self-described “super fangirl” Yvette Nicole Brown. Each week, four world class cosplayers compete to create not only intricate full-body costumes – but fully-formed characters that they must bring to life through their own realistic performance. Guiding and critiquing them are a panel of judges including world class cosplayer LeeAnna Vamp, and A-list costume creator, Christian Beckman (The Hunger Games, TRON: Legacy). At the end of every episode, the winner will walk away with $10,000 … and the right to claim cosplay supremacy.

“As a huge fan of the creativity cosplayers bring to their craft, nothing makes me happier than having a front row seat for the amazing creations set to hit the Cosplay Melee runway,” said host Brown. “These talented artists are going to shine!”

It is, alas, official. Peter Capaldi announced via BBC Radio 2 that he is leaving Doctor Who after the upcoming 10th series (since revival) and the 2017 Christmas Special. This did not come as much of a surprise, as showrunner Steven Moffat is also departing at the end of the year since taking over from Russell T. Davies, who likewise co-departed with David Tennant. And with the exception of Christopher Eccleston, each Doctor since has held the title for three complete series – although Tennant had several “special movies” as well leading up to his departure. Capaldi said when making the announcement, “I’m always someone that did different things. I’ve never done one job for three years before and I feel it’s time for me to move on to different challenges.”

“One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best,” Capaldi added. “From our brilliant crew and creative team working for the best broadcaster on the planet, to the viewers and fans whose endless creativity and generosity and inclusiveness points to a brighter future ahead. I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s been cosmic.”

Chris Chibnall, who is a Doctor Who fan himself, will take over for Moffat. Chibnall was the head writer on Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood, and wrote several episodes of Doctor Who, as well as created the series Broadchurch starring David Tennant.

Let the speculation on the new Doctor begin…and keep in mind, we are never right 🙂

According to multiple source, British actor Sir John Hurt has passed away, having turned 77 earlier this week.

Hurt was one of those actors who simply showed up everywhere, from iconic roles such as the eponymous The Elephant Man (for which he received an Oscar nomination), to smaller but memorable ones such as Kane, the first victim in Alien (and self-parodied in Spaceballs), or even random roles such as an appearance in the short Masters of Science Fiction anthology series. I’ve seen him in so many things over the years, and I can picture him in each one – even if I didn’t realize it was him, such as his role of eccentric billionaire S.R. Hayden in Contact. He received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination and won the Golden Globe for his role of Max in Midnight Express. He had a way of making the smallest roles stand out for me.

More recently, Doctor Who fans would know him as the one the Doctor wouldn’t talk about, a.k.a. the “War Doctor”, who was responsible for what happened to the Time Lords and the Daleks at the end of the time war. And before that, he was Ollivander in several of the Harry Potter movies. And his distinctive gravelly voice was used in many other productions, including The Black Cauldron, Watership Down, The Tigger Movie, the Dragon in the BBC Merlin series, and the animated The Lord of the Rings.

Just a quick roundup on end-of-2016 events…most notably that it’s been the biggest U.S. box office year for movies ever, taking in $11.13 billion with a few days of strong tracking to go. Leading the pack was Disney/Pixar’s Finding Dory at $486 million, followed Rogue One: A Star Wars Story which had $424M, and Captain America: Civil War at $408M, giving Disney’s divisions the box office trifecta for 2016. Rogue One also looks to keep running into 2017, as it reached it’s mark in only 16 days!

While slower at gaining a box office following, Arrival, which cost much less to make than Rogue One and faced a lot of competition after its release, passed $150 million in the global box office, which is not bad for a “thinker” science fiction movie.

What happens when you mash up a superhero story with Doctor Who on Christmas Day? You get the most watched program in 2016 for BBC America. “The Return of Doctor Mysterio” had 1.7 million viewers in the Live+3 ratings and topped all the key demographics, as well as being the channels most active program on social media. Still not sure when the upcoming season will begin, but we are thinking around April.

With brain-swapping aliens poised to attack, the Doctor and Nardole link up with an investigative reporter and a mysterious figure known only as The Ghost. Can the Doctor save Manhattan? And what will be revealed when we see behind the mask?

Starring Peter Capaldi (The Doctor), Matt Lucas (Nardole), Justin Chatwin (Grant), Charity Wakefield (Lucy), Tomiwa Edun (Mr Brock), Aleksandar Jovanovic (Dr Sim) and Logan Huffman.

Here is the complete sneak peek from BBC’s Children In Need special for the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas Special, “The Return Of Doctor Mysterio”…can’t wait!

And give if you can…