Jodie Whittaker returns to Doctor Who

Jodie Whittaker is reprising the role of Doctor Who for Big Finish. This is the first time she's played the titular Time Lord since The Power of the Doctor.

Whittaker said: “I’m over the moon to be joining Big Finish for more adventures in the TARDIS. Recording the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz is a really lovely thing to revisit. One of the things Mandip and I used to love on Doctor Who was getting in, doing a new episode and meeting a brand-new cast. I just can’t wait to step back into the boots, pull on the coat and get cracking. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be brilliant.”

Mandip Gill is back aboard the TARDIS as companion Yaz.

Gill added: “Doctor Who has been a huge part of my career and personal life and I am looking forward to seeing how I can further enrich my character through this exhilarating series. To be able to work with Jodie again is a dream come true, we have such a special friendship, I’m sure the recordings will be filled with laughter.”

Are you looking forward to listening to the Thirteenth Doctor's audio adventures from Big Finish? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who x Star Trek

Ruby Sunday's (Millie Gibson) reference to Star Trek in Space Babies wasn't a throwaway line.

Doctor Who series showrunner Russell T Davies and Star Trek franchise executive producer Alex Kurtzman will headline an Intergalactic Friendship Panel at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). An exclusive creator-to-creator conversation about the art of storytelling in alternative universes and to celebrate the power of friendship.

Doctor Who has captivated audiences since its launch by the BBC in 1963. With Ncuti Gatwa currently portraying the 15th Doctor, the series continues to break records, including being the UK’s most-viewed scripted show on Christmas Day 2023 for under-35s. Meanwhile, Star Trek, with its 60-year legacy since being introduced by Gene Roddenberry, remains a beacon of cultural diversity, scientific exploration, and boundless imagination. Today, it spans 11 TV series, 13 films, and over 900 episodes, available in more than 200 markets worldwide.

In related news. The TARDIS will be materialising at SDCC this year for a Doctor Who Hall H panel with Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson and Russell T Davies, as they discuss all things season one and more.

The beloved sci-fi franchises have a storied history including the Doctor and the crew of the Enterprise battling Borg and Cybermen in IDW comic books.

Would you like to see a live-action Doctor Who and Star Trek crossover episode? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien: Romulus featurette

On Thursday, Twentieth Century Studios dropped a behind-the-scenes featurette for Alien: Romulus.



Read the official synopsis:

"While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe."

The upcoming Alien franchise movie, directed by Fede Álvarez (Don't Breathe), is set between Alien and Aliens and is a hybrid of both.

The film stars Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla), David Jonsson (Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy), Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone), Isabela Merced (The Last of Us), Spike Fearn (Aftersun), Aileen Wu. Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (Don’t Breathe 2) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

Alien: Romulus is produced by Ridley Scott (Napoleon), who directed the original Alien and produced and directed the series’ entries Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, Michael Pruss (Boston Strangler), and Walter Hill (Alien), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (Charlie’s Angels), Brent O’Connor (Bullet Train), and Tom Moran (Unstoppable) serving as executive producers.

Originally intended to go straight-to-streaming on Hulu and Star on Disney+, Alien: Romulus is only in cinemas on 16th August.

Are you looking forward to Alien: Romulus? Let me know in the comments below.

Sunny summer on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ continues to build on its reputation for prestige television with the stylish sci-fi murder mystery series Sunny.



Read the official synopsis:

"Sunny stars Rashida Jones as Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto, Japan, whose life is upended when her husband and son disappear in a mysterious plane crash. As “consolation” she’s given Sunny, one of a new class of domestic robots made by her husband’s electronics company. Though at first, Suzie resents Sunny’s attempts to fill the void in her life, gradually they develop an unexpected friendship. Together they uncover the dark truth of what really happened to Suzie’s family and become dangerously enmeshed in a world Suzie never knew existed."

Sunny is a far cry from my original Omnibot, which was a Christmas gift (circa 1986). Tomy's programmable toy robot was an attempt to capitalise on the popularity of Star Wars' R2-D2. With its built-in cassette deck, remote control and tray, Omnibot hinted at future app-enabled devices that are now commonplace and pose a security threat.

Are you watching Sunny on Apple TV+? Let me know in the comments below.

WandaVision spooky spin-off Agatha All Along

On Monday, Marvel Television dropped a teaser trailer for Agatha All Along on Disney+.



Read the official synopsis:

"In Agatha All Along, the infamous Agatha Harkness finds herself down and out of power after a suspicious goth Teen helps break her free from a distorted spell. Her interest is piqued when he begs her to take him on the legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re missing. Together, Agatha and this mysterious Teen pull together a desperate coven, and set off down, down, down The Road…"

The upcoming WandaVision live-action spin-off series, starring Kathryn Hahn as the titular witch, seemingly focuses on resurrecting Wanda Maximoff AKA Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) in time for Halloween.

Marvel Television’s Agatha All Along premieres in the UK on 19th September, with the first two episodes, exclusively on Disney+.

Are you looking forward to Agatha All Along? Let me know in the comments below.

Cobra Commander (Once A Man) at SDCC

San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) returns later this month.

Our friends at Hasbro have sent over details regarding exclusives from G.I. Joe Classified Series, Marvel Legends, Star Wars: The Black Series and Transformers.

G.I. Joe fans (myself included) will be excited to know this year's SDCC exclusive is from G.I. Joe: The Movie.

G.I. JOE CLASSIFIED SERIES #130, COBRA COMMANDER (ONCE A MAN)

(HASBRO | Ages 4 and Up | Approx. Retail Price: $39.99 | Available: Summer 2024)     

New to the G.I. JOE Classified Series line, Cobra Commander (Once A Man) comes ready for adventure, with multiple points of articulation for high poseability. Inspired by the character’s mutated appearance in G.I. JOE: The Movie, this 6-inch action figure contains 9 character-inspired accessory pieces including 4 alternate hands, alternate helmeted head, cracked faceplate, dagger, backpack, and weapon accessory.

Includes an additional figure of Cobra Commander degenerated and mutated into primitive snake form. A transparent sleeve guards a phenomenal lenticular image depicting the horrific fate of Cobra Commander. Inside, the windowed display showcases the figure, accessory loadout, & dynamic digital renders.

Look for other G.I. JOE figures and toys to build your roster of heroes and Cobra villains (each sold separately, subject to availability). Available exclusively at 2024 San Diego Comic-Con. Attendees can request a time slot to purchase Hasbro products at the Hasbro Booth (#3213) at the Hasbro Pulse Toy Store through the San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives Portal.

Limited quantities will be available to pre-order on Hasbro Pulse after the convention. While supplies last.

Are you excited about G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander (Once A Man)? Are you looking forward to SDCC? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: Empire of Death

Following The Legend of Ruby Sunday, Empire of Death, the second and concluding part of the season one finale was more Scooby snack than Thanos Snap!

Seeing the Doctor’s (Ncuti Gatwa) allies reduced to dust by Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf) looked impressive in 4K UHD on BBC iPlayer, but had no jeopardy as season one wouldn’t end on a cliffhanger.

This was further compounded by the preceding Tales of the TARDIS omnibus edition of Pyramids of Mars on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer for fans in the UK. A classic serial where the stakes are stark with Tom Baker (Doctor Who) and Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith) at the peak of their powers against an alien masquerading as an Egyptian God. My octogenarian dad remembered Sutekh and his robot mummies - watching the Fourth Doctor adventures is a profoundly poignant childhood memory that makes me misty-eyed.

Escaping the destruction of Earth, in the Remembered TARDIS, afforded a glimpse of a timey-wimey crew featuring Mel Bush (Bonnie Langford). Langford's first foray aboard the TARDIS is a nadir in the history of the beloved BBC sci-fi series. Here, we see just how great Langford is and let's hope Mel returns in future spin-off series.

Gatwa's grief at the cosmic destruction wrought by Sutekh due to the Doctor's actions is palpable and could have been an unforgettable season cliffhanger.

The Doctor's detour to a desolate planet, lifted from Dune or Star Wars, was jarring and forgettable - I was more interested in setting up a new iPad Pro (M4) and would never dream of sticking a spoon in its charging port.

The revelation of Ruby Sunday’s (Millie Gibson) biological mother was wholly anticlimactic and nixed fun fan theories circulating on social media. Russell T Davies was inspired by Rey’s origin story in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. She was no one special before it was changed in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

However, this contradicts teases since The Church on Ruby Road. Ruby’s birth mother is a Leeds-based nurse, Louise (Faye McKeever). Okey-dokey! She's the key to defeating Sutekh in a nonsensical twist. Thanos, I mean, Sutekh was obsessed with the secret identity of Ruby's mum! Why? This fixation seemingly leads to his demise in the time vortex...

I didn’t have the TARDIS taking Sutekh for walkies on my bingo card for 2024. After almost half a centenary, the big bad’s return to television screens was comically botched - the subsequent memes on social media were a hilarious commentary on a fizzling finale.

There have been far too many tears this season!

Davies’ denouements are often rushed and none more so than here. It’s a shame, as Gatwa and Gibson are terrific together. Season one deserved more episodes (streaming services have pivoted to shorter seasons) and less reliance on Murray Gold's soundtrack to elicit unearned emotions in surround sound. I still tear up at the farewell between the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) in Doomsday, so Davies can deliver.

Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) cosplaying as former TARDIS companions, is a masterstroke, and I can’t wait to learn more about her in the upcoming holiday special, Joy to the World.

Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season one is available for pre-order (affiliate link).

Have you watched Empire of Death? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

You're gonna need a bigger shelf for LEGO Ideas Jaws

Happy 4th of July to all our US-based readers! Today the LEGO Group announced the LEGO Ideas Jaws set based on Steven Spielberg's seminal blockbuster movie featuring John Williams' unforgettable soundtrack.

Speaking about how he approached the design for the set, fan designer Johnny Campbell, reveals: "JAWS is my favourite movie of all-time, so I really wanted to recreate it in LEGO bricks. LEGO building has always been a part of my life in some shape or form but in order to get all of the finer details, I actually freeze-framed JAWS as I watched it so that I could catch a glimpse of the finer details taking notes as I went along. It is just mind-blowing that my design is now an official LEGO set. I can't wait to stand in a LEGO shop looking at the shelves and seeing a set that I have been involved with and watching someone buying it. It’s every LEGO fan’s dream!”

LEGO Ideas Jaws is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding LEGO Ideas Jaws to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Transformers, LEGO Group and Hasbro have announced LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee.

Known as B-127 on his home planet Cybertron, Bumblebee is often considered the "little brother" of the heroic Autobots. He may be small, but his courage and determination are immeasurable.

Maintaining the same scale as the LEGO Transformers Optimus Prime set, originally revealed in 2022, this set presents enthusiasts with the opportunity to construct the iconic Autobot, Bumblebee, entirely from LEGO bricks.

As longtime readers know, I've been a Transformers fan since 1984. The war between the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons captured my childhood imagination in Marvel UK's comic. Bumblebee was one of the very first Transformers I owned and the beloved Autobot stood sentry, alongside his leader Optimus Prime, in my childhood bedroom.

LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee to your collection? Which Transformers would you like to see immortalised in LEGO bricks? I'm hoping for Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons. Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel Legends Death’s Head at SDCC

San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) returns later this month.

Our friends at Hasbro have sent over details regarding exclusives from G.I. Joe Classified Series, Marvel Legends, Star Wars: The Black Series and Transformers.

Death’s Head originally appeared in Marvel UK's The Transformers comic and Doctor Who Magazine (DWM)! As a fan of both franchises, this is exciting news from Hasbro's Marvel Legends. The cult-favourite mechanoid (no relation to the robot enemy of the Daleks) bounty hunter is an SDCC exclusive.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES DEATH'S HEAD

(HASBRO | Ages 4 and Up | Approx. Retail Price: $39.99 | Available: Summer 2024)     

Bring the excitement and wonder of the Marvel Universe to your collection with the Hasbro Marvel Legends Death's Head figure! Inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel Comics, this collectible 6-inch figure is fully articulated with poseable head, arms, and legs. Comes with 6 accessories, including shield and weapon accessories that can be displayed on his back. This premium figure comes in an exclusive window box package inspired by the character's retro collector card.

Hasbro Marvel action figures' 6-inch scale make them great for posing and displaying in fans' collections. Reimagine Marvel Comics-inspired scenes with Marvel Legends action figures (each sold separately, subject to availability). Attendees can request a time slot to purchase Hasbro products at the Hasbro Booth (#3213) at the Hasbro Pulse Toy Store through the San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives Portal.

Following San Diego Comic-Con, limited quantities will be available to order in on Hasbro Pulse, and other select retailers, after the convention. While supplies last.

Cool, yes?

Are you excited about Marvel Legends Death's Head? Are you looking forward to SDCC? Let me know in the comments below.