Planet of the Dead
| 204 – Planet of the Dead | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor Who special | |||
| Cast | |||
Guest
| |||
| Production | |||
| Directed by | James Strong[2] | ||
| Written by | Russell T Davies and Gareth Roberts[1][2] | ||
| Produced by | Tracie Simpson[2] | ||
| Executive producer(s) | Russell T Davies Julie Gardner | ||
| Production code | 4.15[2] | ||
| Series | 2009-10 Specials | ||
| First broadcast | Easter 2009 | ||
| Chronology | |||
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"Planet of the Dead" is an upcoming episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who due to be screened on BBC One at Easter 2009. It is the first of four specials to be broadcast throughout 2009 and early 2010.
Plot
The Easter special will involve the Lady Christina de Souza stealing jewellery and escaping on a red London bus, which takes a "detour into danger" with the Doctor.
Cast
Comedian Lee Evans will play Malcolm, a professor, whose life is said to become connected to the Doctor's in extraordinary circumstances.[3] Michelle Ryan will play Lady Christina de Souza, a character with "... a mysterious past who's going to have a huge impact on the Doctor". 'UNIT' Captain Erisa Magambo will be played by Noma Dumezweni, reprising her role from "Turn Left".[3]
Production
Executive Producer and head writer Russell T Davies will co-write the episode with Gareth Roberts ("The Shakespeare Code", "The Unicorn and the Wasp"). Davies has said the script would be "kept strictly under wraps". The episode will be directed by James Strong and production began on 19 January in Wales.[3][2] The title of the episode was unveiled during the closing credits of "The Next Doctor" broadcast on 25 December 2008, several weeks before production of the episode was due to begin.
Rumours of overseas shooting in Dubai were confirmed by Davies in interviews in late January, who indicated the need for a desert on "a proper alien planet".[4] At the same time, reports emerged that a 1980 Bristol VR double-decker bus - previously alluded to as a major element of the story[3] - had been damaged beyond use during transport to Dubai, and that this has made substantial rewrites necessary to maintain the production schedule.[5]
"Planet of the Dead" is the first episode of Doctor Who to be filmed in HD.[6]
This episode will feature a new monster named 'tritovore'. The writers claim that they will become as pouplar as the Daleks and the Cyberman.[7]
References
- ^ "Series Five". BBC. 03 September 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e "Get ready for Planet of the Dead!". Doctor Who Magazine (404). Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Panini Comics: 5. 4 February 2009 (cover date).
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d "All aboard for next special". BBC. 23rd Jan 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Nick Setchfield (2008-01-28). "Doctor Whobai". SFX. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ Ben Leach (2009-01-28). "Doctor Who filming disrupted as double decker bus wrecked". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ "Doctor Who to be filmed in HD". Doctor Who Online. 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
- ^ http://io9.com/5143302/doctor-who-villains-revealed-insane-hyperbole-ensues
External links
- Planet of the Dead on Tardis Wiki, the Doctor Who Wiki
- The first released promotional image
