Doctor Who on Children in Need

It's Children in Need on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Ahead of the three specials for the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, David Tennant is reprising the titular role for Children in Need.

Tennant said: “Every year that I was on Doctor Who we did something for BBC Children in Need, so it only feels right to be doing something this year. Children in Need is a national tradition, it’s certainly a BBC tradition and Doctor Who is part of that. I’m so glad we’re able to give Children in Need viewers this little extra treat.”

The Fourteenth Doctor lands on Skaro, homeworld of the Daleks. Linked to the classic Fourth Doctor story Genesis of the Daleks (available on iPlayer), the special scene, written by returning series showrunner Russell T Davies, will be followed by a behind-the-scenes look on Doctor Who: Unleashed on iPlayer.

Davies says: “Doctor Who has a fine tradition of supporting BBC Children in Need, and I hope that fans and new viewers alike will be able to watch, enjoy, and contribute to this wonderful cause.”



Davies responds to Davros' (Julian Bleach) cameo on Children in Need!

"We had long conversations about bringing Davros back because he's a fantastic character," Davies began, but added that "time, society, culture and taste has moved on, and there's a problem with Davros of old, in that he's a wheelchair user, who is evil."

Continuing, Davies said: "I had problems with that, and a lot of people on the production team had problems with that; associating disability with evil – and trust me, there's a very long tradition of this.

"The world changes, and when the world changes, Doctor Who has to change as well."

"I say: 'This is how we see Davros now'," he explained.

"Because it's Children In Need night... where issues of disability and otherness come right to the front of the conversation."

The Star Beast, the first of three 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland on 25th November.

Will you be watching Doctor Who on Children in Need? Let me know in the comments below.

The Creator

As an artificial intelligence (AI) ethics debate rages on, director Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) returns to the big screen with a timely tale.

This is Edwards' first film since Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which was beset by reshoots under the auspices of Tony Gilroy (Andor). We may never know how much of Edwards' original vision made it to screen.

Nick Smith, our US-based stellar scribe, ponders the implications of AI, a recurring theme in science fiction.

Guest post by Nick Smith

You can’t judge a good movie by its trailer, as demonstrated by the latest blockbuster from the director of Godzilla and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Gareth Edwards. The advertising apes seem to give the game away with the trailer for The Creator, which depicts AI-gone-wrong androids and maverick freedom fighter Joshua (played by Tenet’s John David Washington) sent to defeat the robotic remnants. But oh no, the last remnant is a child! What’s an individualist to do in such a situation?

When I described the trailer to my son, we decided this must be a Terminator/Blade Runner mashup. Thankfully, The Creator is far more than that. The plot twist of the trailer – which would have been a more effective turning point in the movie if it hadn’t been given away – is just the beginning of this ride into the future, which is full of visual creativity and amazing CGI, which is sewn into the images of combat, high technology, and humanity in the face of large-scale threat that Edwards always does so well.

Storywise, Edwards keeps it simple.

America is bad and senselessly destructive. The US army is bad, with no regard for human or AI life that stands in its way. The plot is reminiscent of James Cameron’s Avatar, and who can blame Edwards for that, since Avatar has raked in almost $3 billion? The child droid Alphie (9-year-old Madeleine Yuna Voyles), who displays near-mystic, physics-twisting powers, bears similarities with another Avatar – Aang the Last Airbender.

Like Aang, Alphie is on the run from a powerful foe – not Prince Zuko this time, but the US military. They have a superweapon that can shut down all AI. And, apart from the whole we-don’t-want-to-deactivate-a-child thing, shouldn’t we root for America? After all, AI steals our art and our jobs, invades our privacy and threatens our security.

The comparisons with America’s involvement in Vietnam are hardly subtle here, with an East Asian setting and a bombastic military picking on the small guy. It gives the audience something to connect with as we see rice paddies invaded by giant mechs.

But that human element is never lost and, as in Blade Runner, we are asked to examine what it means to be human. Should we care about machines? Would we care more about them if they looked like us? Joshua tries not to care but finds it harder as he becomes more invested in the plight of the AIs.

The question for modern audiences is, does The Creator cover any new ground? For those who have not read Philip K. Dick or seen his movie adaptations, the answer is yes. For veteran cinephiles, not so much. But a lack of storytelling nuance is made up for by the visuals, which encompass everything from 2000 AD (with a rust-bucket anthropomorphised bomb droid straight out of Ro-Busters) to 9/11 to 2001: A Space Odyssey while adding new eye-popping detail throughout.

The Creator is a thrilling adventure that could have ruled the summer with a bigger, better cast, but as it stands, it’s a fantastic fix for action sci-fi junkies.

The Creator is available to own digitally from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you seen The Creator? Let me know in the comments below.

Nick Smith's new audiobook, Undead on Arrival, is available from Amazon (affiliate link).

Rebel Moon fills a Star Wars-sized void

Netflix will fill a Star Wars-sized hole this holiday season with Rebel Moon from director Zack Snyder (Justice League). During Netflix's Geeked Week, the streamer dropped an official trailer for Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire.



Read the official synopsis:

"A new universe awaits on Netflix, starting December 22.

From Zack Snyder, the filmmaker behind 300, Man of Steel, and Army of the Dead, comes REBEL MOON, a 2-part movie event decades in the making.

After crash landing on a moon in the furthest reaches of the universe, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a stranger with a mysterious past, begins a new life among a peaceful settlement of farmers. But she soon becomes their only hope for survival when the tyrannical Regent Balisarius (Fra Fee) and his cruel emissary, Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein), discover the farmers have unwittingly sold their crops to the Bloodaxes (Cleopatra Coleman and Ray Fisher) — leaders of a fierce group of insurgents hunted by the Motherworld.

Tasked with finding fighters who would risk their lives to defend the people of Veldt, Kora and Gunnar (Michiel Huisman), a tenderhearted farmer naive in the realities of war, journey to different worlds in search of the Bloodaxes, and assemble a small band of warriors who share a common need for redemption along the way: Kai (Charlie Hunnam), a pilot and gun for hire; General Titus (Djimon Hounsou), a legendary commander; Nemesis (Doona Bae), a master swordswoman; Tarak (Staz Nair), a captive with a regal past; and Milius (E. Duffy), a resistance fighter. Back on Veldt, Jimmy (voiced by Anthony Hopkins), an ancient mechanized protector hiding in the wings, awakens with a new purpose. But the newly formed revolutionaries must learn to trust each other and fight as one before the armies of the Motherworld come to destroy them all."

The film stars Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Bae Doona, Ray Fisher, Charlie Hunnam, Staz Nair, E. Duffy, Cary Elwes, Corey Stoll, Jena Malone, Fra Fee, Cleopatra Coleman, Alfonso Herrera, Stuart Martin, Sky Yang, Rhian Rees, Charlotte Maggi and Anthony Hopkins as the voice of Jimmy, a robot knight.

Variety reports Snyder's space opera will get a limited theatrical release. Rebel Moon - Part 1: A Child of Fire will be playing exclusively on 70mm from 15th to 21st December at the following locations: Los Angeles (Egyptian Theatre), New York City (Paris Theater), Toronto (TIFF Bell Lightbox) and London (Prince Charles Cinema).

Rebel Moon was purportedly pitched to Lucasfilm as a Star Wars movie before Disney acquired George Lucas' company in 2012. Snyder's love of Star Wars shines through in Netflix's big-budget Battle Beyond the Stars for the streaming generation.

Rebel Moon is being built as a new intellectual property (IP) exclusively on Netflix. Part 1: A Child of Fire will premiere on 22nd December. Part 2: The Scargiver will be released on 19th April 2024

Are you looking forward to Rebel Moon? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Marvel Avengers Tower on Black Friday

The Avengers are back to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their comic book debut and this time they brought the whole team.

From Black Friday, order the new LEGO Marvel Avengers Tower and recreate their heroic headquarters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Here’s the full list of LEGO minifigures from the Infinity Saga: Tony Stark, Iron Man MK7, Iron Man MK6 (damaged), Captain America x2, Thor, Black Widow, Ant-Man, Hawkeye, Wanda Maximoff, Falcon, Vision, War Machine, Pepper Potts, Wong, Nick Fury, Dr. Cho, Hulk, Dum-E, Erik Selvig, Tony Stark SHIELD Agent, SHIELD Agent x2, Alexander Pierce, Chitauri x4, Loki, Ultron and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

Order the LEGO Marvel Avengers Tower from 24th to 27th November, and LEGO Insiders (myself included) will also get a free Marvel Taxi gift with purchase (GWP), which includes an iconic New York yellow taxi and four minifigures including Black Panther, a taxi driver and two outriders.

LEGO Marvel Avengers Tower is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

What do you think of the LEGO Marvel Avengers Tower? Let me know in the comments below.

Paul McGann to return as Doctor Who?

As the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who rapidly approaches, the Whoniverse is purportedly about to expand with the adventures of the Eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann (Withnail and I), if rumours of a new live-action spin-off series are to be believed.

Returning series showrunner Russell T Davies (It's A Sin) has spoken of his desire to emulate the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Star Wars spin-offs on Disney+.

A source told The Mirror: “Russell likes the idea of bringing back McGann with his own set of episodes in the TARDIS. Disney are on board as they want more original content and want to fully exploit the franchise as they know how big it could become.”

McGann most recently reprised the role of the titular time lord in The Power of the Doctor.

The Star Beast, the first of three 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland on 25th November.

Would you like to see Paul McGann starring in his own series as the Eighth Doctor? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who Holiday Special

The Doctor Who Holiday Special - The Church on Ruby Road - is confirmed on Christmas Day as part of Season's Streamings on Disney+. Presumably, the upcoming special will be shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day in the UK.

Ncuti Gatwa (Barbie) gets the keys to the TARDIS and Millie Gibson (Coronation Street) will join Gatwa as companion Ruby Sunday. This will be followed by season one in 2024. Yes, you read that right. Think of it as the first series reboot since 2005.

In an interview in SFX magazine, Russell T Davies, returning showrunner, teased: "Because people are beginning to ask "Why is there no Disney push behind this?" That's coming in [Redacted]. Ooh, we're not supposed to say [Redacted], are we? Next year, season one. Yes, we're calling it season one."

The Star Beast, the first of three 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland on 25th November.

Are you looking forward to Doctor Who on Christmas Day? Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel Studios' Echo is brutal

Marvel Studios has dropped an official trailer for Echo, starring Alaqua Cox as the titular character. Rated TV-MA, the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) live-action spin-off series harkens back to Daredevil on Netflix. Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio reprise the roles of Daredevil and Kingpin respectively.



Read the official synopsis:

"Streaming exclusively on Disney, the origin story of Echo revisits Maya Lopez, whose ruthless behavior in New York City catches up with her in her hometown. She must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community if she ever hopes to move forward."

Echo made her MCU debut in Hawkeye on Disney+ in 2021.

Echo streams exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu on the 10th of January 2024.

Are you looking forward to Echo on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

What's next for Ahsoka?

Ahsoka has concluded on Disney+. The standouts for me were the soundtrack from composer Kevin Kiner (Star Wars Rebels), Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson), Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), Huyang (David Tennant) and the return of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen).

Whilst there's no official announcement regarding a second season (rumours suggest Lucasfilm is moving the production from LA to London), Nick Smith, our US-based stellar scribe, muses on the possible future of Dave Filoni's Star Wars live-action spin-off series.

Guest post by Nick Smith

Ahsoka gave us a cliffhanger ending with Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) on the loose and Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) stranded, leaving a million voices suddenly crying out for a second season. While the intro episodes were sedately paced, easing new viewers into Ahsoka’s world, season two will have to pick up speed to reach the breathtaking heights we expect from Star Wars.

Here’s what I’d like to see in a second season of Ahsoka:

1. More Star Wars Rebels characters

The Star Wars Rebels show was full of rich, often humorous characters such as the unmitigated scoundrel Hondo Ohnaka and the dry-humoured former Imperial droid, AP-5. While Zeb Orrelios (Steve Blum) made a cameo in The Mandalorian, Ahsoka would be foolish to ignore Rebel’s rich dramatis personae and I look forward to seeing Zeb reunited with Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi).

2. More Hera and Chopper

While we’re at it, we’d also like to see more of the Rebels we did meet, especially Hera Syndulla – a highlight of the first season, it ain’t easy being green but she maintained her cool – and C1-10P AKA Chopper, who has enough feisty droidiness to out-cheek R2-D2. Hera in particular had a fleshed-out family and cultural background, making her a well-rounded character. Rosario Dawson could learn a thing or two from Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who gives a nuanced performance hinting at her humble Twi’lek roots.

3. Ahsoka is a complex character

Yes, Ahsoka is a grown Jedi packed with poise and grace. But as the titular character of this show, she needs to give us more than an occasional smirk and bad-ass stance. Throughout the first season, Rosario Dawson maintained her performance of Ahsoka as a stoic, poker-faced character, very different from the young Ahsoka who would take on General Grievous because, ‘it seemed like a good idea.’ Dawson’s got the chops to show Ahsoka’s younger, chirpier side shining through, proving that they’re the same person in more than name.

4. More World Between Worlds

In Rebels and Ahsoka, we visited the World Between Worlds, where times, places and planes of existence collide. This ethereal realm offers so many possibilities for Star Wars characters from different timelines to interact, for Ahsoka to glimpse what might have been... or what could be. There’s still a chance to save Han!

5. A faster pace

One of the many joys of the original Star Wars trilogy was its breakneck pace, which didn’t give us time to scrutinize the storyline or recognize old tropes (of course, that has changed after countless rewatches). We already have a slow show (Andor), which harkens back to ‘70s drama. If it wants to continue, Ahsoka should develop its own dynamic and appeal to the short-attention-span viewers who responded so well to the first season’s lightsabre duels and space battles.

6. Thrawn unleashed

Thrawn is a beautifully crafted villain, maintaining his panache despite being stranded on a remote hostile planet for years. He is intelligent, sophisticated and deadly, with his own strict yet twisted code of conduct. He is one of the few Star Wars characters in existence who could replace the Emperor as a threat to the New Republic. The worse the villain, the more fun it is to see our ragtag fugitives bring him down!

7. Why They Fight

We got a peek at the Republic and the problems they face in season one, but let’s see the good guys enjoying their victory before it’s shattered by Thrawn. What makes the alliance different from the Old Republic, or the Empire? What good have they done, and how can that be threatened by Imperial remnants? How precarious is the peace that Luke Skywalker secured?

8. More new characters

Beyond that whole rich tapestry thing, Star Wars is all about showing us weird alien races and entertaining characters. Season one brought us the howler steeds and the nomadic Noti; it’s a big galaxy, so I expect to see plenty more imaginative character designs next time around.

9. More relevance to the general audience

You don’t need to see animated Disney movies to understand the live-action versions. The same should apply to Star Wars. So far, writer Dave Filoni has done a good job of dropping some backstories without alienating new viewers. It’s time for the show to tell its own story without reliance on prior events.

10. More mystery and wonder

From the mythological statues of Peridea to the majestic, whale-like Purrgil, Ahsoka depicted some jaw-dropping moments of wonder. Since Thrawn has the Night Sisters in tow, I’m looking forward to seeing our heroes cope with dark magic on an awe-inspiring scale. But let’s hope there are more positive phenomena to behold as well, beyond the sheer beauty of infinite, starlit space.

Have you watched season one of Ahsoka on Disney+? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Nick Smith's new audiobook, Undead on Arrival, is available from Amazon (affiliate link).

The Daleks in colour on Doctor Who's 60th

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, a special colourised 75-minute omnibus edition of The Daleks featuring a brand new soundtrack by Mark Ayres will be released on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer on 23rd November.

The classic serial launched Dalekmania and is often attributed to cementing the success of the long-running BBC sci-fi series and making Terry Nation, creator of the Daleks, a fortune.

Phil Collinson, Executive Producer says: “It’s been my absolute pleasure to spend this past 12 months working with such a talented team to breathe new life into this classic adventure - a story that is literally the foundation stone of all that Doctor Who has become. The original is a masterpiece of 1960’s television drama and this new version stands on the shoulders of the pioneering spirit of 1960’s Doctor Who.”

With the launch of The Whoniverse on iPlayer, it's The Five Faces of Doctor Who, but bigger on the inside. Growing up, I never imagined instantly accessing all eras of Doctor Who! Target novelisations, Marvel UK’s Doctor Who Weekly, books, off-air recordings, Denys Fisher toys and expensive omnibus VHS releases (beginning with Revenge of the Cybermen) were the order of the day.

The Star Beast, the first of three 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland on 25th November.

Pre-order The Daleks in Colour (affiliate link) on DVD, Blu-ray and Steelbook!

Are you looking forward to seeing The Daleks in colour? Which classic serials would you like to see colourised in the future by Bad Wolf? The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Tomb of the Cybermen or The Web of Fear? Let me know in the comments below.

Hasbro Star Wars at MCM London Comic Con

Over the weekend at MCM London Comic Con, the Hasbro Star Wars team showed off brand new figures including Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Count Dooku, Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Finn (Starkiller Base), Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Phase I Clone Trooper, Star Wars: The Black Series Carson Teval Electronic Helmet, Star Wars: The Black Series Anakin Skywalker, and Star Wars: The Black Series Padmé Amidala.

2024 marks the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and Hasbro will be releasing a range of products to celebrate the Star Wars prequel's milestone.



STAR WARS: THE VINTAGE COLLECTION COUNT DOOKU

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $16.99 / Available: Spring 2024)

Celebrate the legacy of Star Wars with premium vehicles, playsets, and action figures from Star Wars: The Vintage Collection. (Additional products each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Inspired by Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, this 3.75-inch-scale Count Dooku figure makes a great addition to any fan’s collection. Look for more Star Wars collectibles for adults to build a galaxy on your shelf!

Available for pre-order 30th October at 10am PT/7am ET at Hasbro Pulse, Entertainment Earth, and other fan channel retailers.

STAR WARS: THE VINTAGE COLLECTION FINN (STARKILLER BASE)

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $16.99 / Available: Spring 2024)

Celebrate the legacy of Star Wars with premium vehicles, playsets, and action figures from Star Wars: The Vintage Collection. (Additional products each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens, this 3.75-inch-scale Finn (Starkiller Base) figure makes a great addition to any fan’s collection. Look for more Star Wars collectibles for adults to build a galaxy on your shelf!

Available for pre-order 30th October at 10am PT/7am ET at Hasbro Pulse, Entertainment Earth, and other fan channel retailers.

STAR WARS: THE VINTAGE COLLECTION PHASE I CLONE TROOPER

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $16.99 / Available: Spring 2024)

Celebrate the legacy of Star Wars with premium vehicles, playsets, and action figures from Star Wars: The Vintage Collection. (Additional products each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Inspired by Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, this 3.75-inch-scale Phase I Clone Trooper figure makes a great addition to any fan’s collection. Look for more Star Wars collectibles for adults to build a galaxy on your shelf! Available for pre-order 30th October at 10am PT/7am ET at Hasbro Pulse, Entertainment Earth, and other fan channel retailers.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES CARSON TEVA ELECTRONIC HELMET

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $131.99 / Available: Spring 2024)

Reimagine iconic scenes from in the Star Wars saga - and create your own - with Star Wars helmet and Lightsaber roleplay items! This helmet is detailed to look like the Carson Teva helmet from the Star Wars: The Mandalorian live-action series on Disney+. (Additional products each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Available for pre-order 30th October at 10am PT/7am ET at Hasbro Pulse, Entertainment Earth, and other fan channel retailers.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES ANAKIN SKYWALKER

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99 / Available: Spring 2024)

Star Wars: The Black Series includes 6-inch action figures, vehicles, and roleplay items from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy. With exquisite features and decoration, this series embodies the quality and realism that Star Wars devotees love. May the Force be with you! (Additional products each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Available for pre-order 30th October at 10am PT/7am ET at Hasbro Pulse, Entertainment Earth, and other fan channel retailers.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES PADMÉ AMIDALA

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99 / Available: Spring 2024)

Star Wars: The Black Series includes 6-inch action figures, vehicles, and roleplay items from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy. With exquisite features and decoration, this series embodies the quality and realism that Star Wars devotees love. May the Force be with you! (Additional products each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Available for pre-order 30th October at 10am PT/7am ET at Hasbro Pulse, Entertainment Earth, and other fan channel retailers.

Which Hasbro Star Wars announcement at MCM London Comic Con is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below.