Christian Cawley's Blog, page 340

Karen Gillan Announces She’s Writing a Movie

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Multi talented hottie Karen Gillan has been doing a lot of promo work recently for her new movie Not Another Happy Ending, in which the former Doctor Who companion plays a novelist with writer’s block (there’s more to it than that, of course, but you’ll have to see it to find out what…).

Conducting a multitude of interviews (although we haven’t been invited), the actress has shared much. We’ll come to a particularly (un-)exciting example later tonight, but first, the thrilling news that the actress has put pen to paper (presumably at some point of the process before she grabbed a keyboard and nearby computer, tablet or phone) and is writing a film script.

I’m writing something at the moment that I don’t really want to talk about, because I don’t feel like it’s time yet. But I’m in the middle of something right now.

When pressed further the actress – who shaved her head for her role in the Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy recently  - confessed that “it’s a film,” which we think you’ll agree is pretty exciting. Continuing, she said

Writing definitely appeals to me, I think it’s amazing and I indulge in it.

We can’t wait to see what she does!

(Via Radio Times.)

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More Guests for Australia’s Whovention 2014

Drew Boynton is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

You’d better not run and there’s no need to take cover, because three more Doctor Who stars are headed for The Land Down Under. Whovention, one of Australia’s best Who conventions, has just added Barnaby Edwards, Lisa Bowerman, and Gary Russell to their guest list. Already announced to be attending the show is none other than Fifth Doctor companion Sarah Sutton (Nyssa).

Barnaby Edwards is best known as menacing Doctors 9-11 while encased in a Dalek, er, costume. Dalek suit? And he has also gone on to do tons of off-screen work:

“Barnaby has also acted, written or directed over 70 of the Big Finish audio adventures, notching up roles alongside another five Doctors!”

Lovely Lisa Bowerman ran wild with Ace and the Seventh Doctor onscreen in the 1989 episode Survival, and then became her own franchise as the prolific Professor Bernice “Benny” Summerfield.

“As Benny, Lisa embodies everything that kept Doctor Who alive in those dark years between Karra’s last gasp in 1989 to Rose’s lottery money in 2005.”

Gary Russell “seems to crop up in nearly every corner of the Doctor Who universe” and has been script editor, editor, and author on many Who-related projects. This includes stints working on both Who spin-offs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The convention will be taking place on February 21-23 at the amazing Bankstown Sports Club, which is just a cab ride away from the Sydney airport. Tickets to Whovention include one free autograph with each guest and a “Whovention showbag”! Not too bad!

As always, further details and ticket prices can be found on the convention’s website, whovention.dwca.org.au.

No word on whether vegemite sandwiches will be served.

The post More Guests for Australia’s Whovention 2014 appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Paul McGann to Be Face of World War I Website

James Lomond is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann, will be travelling back in time this Autumn, providing the face for an online memory project by Liverpool John Moores University. Merseyside at War 1914-1918 aims to put together a picture of life for those at home and at the front during WWI in the Merseyside area and are inviting people to submit their own memories. McGann is a self-declared WWI enthusiast having developed an interest while working on BBC period drama, The Monocled Mutineer and from talking to veterans about their experiences on the Western Front.

The First World War has only just ceased to be within living memory, the last trench soldiers have just died. …I was privileged enough to know them for the last twenty years of their lives.

…I just think generally, that perhaps more than anything it’s shaped the century that we were born in and the effects are still being felt now even a hundred years later.

There’s something enchanting about the idea of ‘living memory’ – that someone can relive an historical event in their mind and tell it how it was. And there’s a powerful sense of nostalgia in the way McGann talks about the period and the “genuine stories” that can now be told by any documents, letters, photos or other memories that people might have at home.

If you or relatives lived in Merseyside in the period and would like to be involved, you can email WWI & WWII expert Professor Frank McDonough directly at the university (f.x.mcdonough@ljmu.ac.uk). Don’t worry about being asked to part with valued documents – from November you will be able to upload documents to the website. Right now you can find an online form here http://ljmu.ac.uk/merseyside-at-war/ alternatively you can email the LJMU history department directly at Merseysideatwar@ljmu.ac.uk

(Via Liverpool Echo.)

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What’s Next for Jago & Litefoot?

Meredith Burdett is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Those intrepid investigators of infernal affairs Jago & Litefoot have been recently pleasing fans with the release of their sixth (!) series of spin off adventures from the world of Doctor Who thanks to the good people at Big Finish.

But now that the latest series is out of the way, is that it for the London based duo? Will we hear from the friends of the Doctor ever again? Of course we will!

Hot off the heels of series 6, Big Finish have announced the stories, actors and writers that will form series 7 of Jago & Litefoot and these new adventures sound like they won’t disappoint! Big Finish revealed the following information:

Once more starring Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter (who first appeared together back in the 1977 serial The Talons of Weng Chiang) as the titular sleuths, the Jago & Litefoot – Series Seven box set also guest stars Louise Jameson as Leela, Steven Miler, Lizzie Roper and Philip Pope, alongside old favourites Lisa Bowerman and Conrad Asquith as Ellie and Quick. The stories are:

7.1 The Monstrous Menagerie by Jonathan Morris

A trail of clues leads Jago and Litefoot to 221B Baker Street – the (empty) London home of the Doctor, where they can rest and plan their next move. Then a meeting with Arthur Conan Doyle leads them into the strangest case of the investigating career…

7.2 The Night of 1000 Stars by James Goss

For one night only, Leela has returned to Victorian England. And for one night only, everyone will get to perform. There are stories to tell – but there may not be a happy ending.

7.3 Murder at Moorsey Manor by Simon Barnard and Paul Morris

Jago and Litefoot’s quest takes them to Moorsey Manor, where Sherlock Holmes fans are meeting to mourn the anniversary of their hero’s death at the Reichenbach Falls. But why is someone trying to kill them?

7.4 The Wax Princess by Justin Richards

Jago and Litefoot learn the greatest secret in the Empire – Jack the Ripper has escaped!

Mentions of the Doctor, the return of Leela, 221b Baker Street, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the Reichenbach falls and Jack the Ripper, you couldn’t ask for a more action-packed series!

Due out in April 2014, Jago & Litefoot Series 7 is available for pre order now on CD or via download from www.bigfinish.com .

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Moffat Talks Casting at Cheltenham Festival

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Doctor Who chief and all-round awesome writer, Steven Moffat, is to take part in the Radio Times’ Sherlock, The Doctor and Me talk at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Moffat, who’s first canon contribution to Doctor Who was 2005’s much-loved The Empty Child/ The Doctor Dances, will be talking about the 50th anniversary special, casting Doctors Eleven and Twelve, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi respectively, and the phenomenal success of his and Mark Gatiss’ Sherlock, which is set to return to screens for a third series of three episodes later this year.

Cheltenham’s Literature Festival begins today and runs until 13th October, and Sherlock, The Doctor and Me takes place on the final day at the Town Hall, 3:45pm- 4:45pm. Drinks should be available from the Pillar Room Bar.

Tickets, priced £10, go on general release on Monday 7th October, but members can buy them (with a 10% discount) from Sunday.

(Via Radio Times.)

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Will Tennant’s American Accent Work For Broadchurch Remake?

Jonathan Appleton is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

David Tennant is to reprise his role in the US version of hit drama Broadchurch… and he’ll be adopting an American accent.

Fox has signed David up to star in the remake of the ITV1 drama which, as in the UK original, will revolve around the effects on a community of the murder of a young boy.

The series was a massive success in Britain, due in no small part to the leading man’s performance as the detective in charge of the investigation who has secrets of his own.

There’s no word yet as to whether Tennant will return in series 2 of British Broadchurch. On BBC Radio 4′s Front Row this week he told Mark Lawson to ask Chris Chibnall if he’d be coming back, though it would surely be a huge surprise if he doesn’t return.

Doctor Number Ten has some form with US accents, adopting one in 2010 for Rex is Not Your Lawyer, a pilot that didn’t get taken up.

What do you think? As good as Damian Lewis in Homeland? Or more of a Dick Van Dyke in reverse?

(Via Radio Times.)

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David Tennant Feared Doctor Who Fan Resentment

Andrew Reynolds is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Can you ever really go back? For a Time Lord it’s as easy as flicking the wrong switch but for David Tennant, there were some reservations about donning the old pinstripe suit once more for the 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor.

At last weekend’s Tenth Doctor BFI event, a ponytailed Tennant said:

Part of me would have stayed doing it forever. But it’s one of those things where you just have to take a deep breath and think: ‘If I don’t leave this show now, people will resent me still being there in 25 years.’

Unsurprisingly, returning to the show was a fraught business for Tennant. Not only were there nervous to contend with but also the floppy-haired presence of his successor, the equally popular Matt Smith.

As reported earlier this week, in recently published extracts from The Doctor: His Lives and Times, Tennant spoke of the trepidation he felt as filming approached.

I thought, ‘Oh this’ll be great’. As the day approaches, I then think, ‘What if Matt feels like I’m stepping on his toes?’ Or, ‘What if I can’t remember how to do it? Surely I’m too old to be doing this now?’

The Day of the Doctor will be simulcast across the globe on the 23rd November.

The Doctor – His Lives and Times is available to order now for just £12 from Amazon UK.

The post David Tennant Feared Doctor Who Fan Resentment appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Karen “Open” to Guardians/Avengers Crossover

Andrew Reynolds is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Slipping effortlessly (and hairlessly) from one continuity heavy franchise to another, Guardians of the Galaxy and former Doctor Who companion Karen Gillan has expressed interest in appearing in a Marvel Studios Guardians/Avengers crossover movie.

Speaking to Total Film (click play above to watch), Gillan confirmed that while nothing official has been mooted at this point, the potential team up between the Guardians and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes would be ‘amazing’:

That sounds really cool, not something I’ve heard anything about that, but that would be amazing. I would be open to that.

Gillan, who plays the villainous Nebula in the upcoming film, also discussed the differences between Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers:

What’s different about Guardians is that everybody is a villain. There’s just good guys within the bad guys.

Guardians of the Galaxy will be released on August 1, 2014.

(Via Digital Spy.)

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Gareth Roberts to Adapt City of Death!

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

If you’re a fan of Gareth Roberts and Douglas Adams, loved the recent adaptation of Shada and have been longing for more, your dreams have been answered: Gareth Roberts is currently working on a novelisation of City of Death!

@TygerWhoCame2T Oh, I feel like blabbing … I'm writing City Of Death right now, should be out next year.

— Gareth Roberts (@OldRoberts953) October 2, 2013

The 1979 story – which pitted the Doctor and Romana against the time-splintered alien Scaroth of the Jagaroth whose presence on Earth shaped human history – had until now been, like Shada, a victim of Douglas Adams being unable to agree to and schedule an adaptation back in the Target days. But following the success of Shada, Roberts has once again (and deservedly, in our opinion) been handed the task of adapting the popular story which guest starred Julian Glover as Scaroth, Catherine Schell as Countess Scarlioni and Tom Chadbon as Duggan, with John Cleese and Eleanor Bron also making a comedy guest appearance with Tom Baker and Lalla Ward.

Often cited as one of the best serials of the show’s 50 years, we’ve still got to wait until 2014 to read it. Still, might as well pre-order Doctor Who: City of Death by Douglas Adams, adapted by Gareth Roberts from Amazon today, right?

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Tennant Gets His Own Universal Sonic Remote

Jonathan Appleton is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

David Tennant has been presented with his own replica of the sonic screwdriver he used in the series. And it does just about everything the real one did.

Manufacturers The Wand Company presented David with the replica after he lent them his own sonic for the company to use in preparing the new product line.  In the same way as the Doctor is the last of the Time Lords, the device was apparently the last of its kind and was presented as a leaving gift on his departure. The presentation was made at the recent BFI Doctor Who at 50 screening, and the accompanying photo orginated on The Wand Company’s Facebook page.

Now you too can own your very own sonic screwdriver. The very entertaining product description on the company’s website promises ‘ultimate authenticity and quality’ and a ‘solid high quality feel in the hand’. The device serves as a universal remote control and incorporates ’advanced gesture recognition technology’ and a ‘screen accurate craquelure finish’ (no, me neither). There are even some handy diagrams showing how to flick and rotate it to get the very best functionality. At least you can’t accuse them of under-selling it.

It doesn’t come cheap at £69.95 from Forbidden Planet or $199.99 USD, but don’t tell me you’re not tempted…

(Via Tennant News.)

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