Doctor Who returns 25th November

On Wednesday, the BBC announced the first of three specials celebrating the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland on 25th November.

The key art for The Star Beast is an homage to Marvel UK's Doctor Who Weekly cover illustrated by legendary comic book artist Dave Gibbons (Watchmen)!

Joining David Tennant as Doctor Who and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble in The Star Beast (25th November), Wild Blue Yonder (2nd December) and The Giggle (9th December) is a stellar cast including, Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble, Miriam Margolyes as the voice of the Meep, Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble, Karl Collins as Shaun Temple, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne-Bingham, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart and Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker, set to cause all kinds of mayhem.

Disney+ has released an official trailer for the 60th anniversary specials.



With returning showrunner Russell T Davies (It's A Sin), it will be an unmissable cosmic adventure spanning three consecutive Saturday nights, all before Ncuti Gatwa (Barbie) gets the keys to the TARDIS over the festive season. Millie Gibson (Coronation Street) will join Gatwa aboard the TARDIS as companion Ruby Sunday.

You can pre-order the 60th anniversary specials (affiliate link) on DVD, Blu-ray and Steelbook! All 3 episodes, behind-the-scenes, special features and more will be available on physical release from 11th December.

Are you looking forward to the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: Gift the Galaxy

'Tis the season. Gift the Galaxy is a 10-week celebration revealing and highlighting Star Wars toys, apparel, and more, helping fans find a gift for everyone on their list. Or if you’re a fan (myself included), maybe you’ll find something new for your own wishlist!

Our friends at Hasbro have sent over the latest reveals for Star Wars: The Black Series!

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES STARKILLER

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

STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES STARKILLER figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED video game. Galen Marek, code name “Starkiller,” was a Force-sensitive human who became Darth Vader’s apprentice during the Galactic Empire’s reign. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated deluxe figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and lightsaber accessory.

Available for pre-order 10/25 at 1pm ET at Hasbro Pulse and other major retailers.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES R4-6D0

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

STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES R4-6D0 figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in the third season of STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN. With Nevarro under siege by pirates, Greef Karga uses his trusted astromech droid R4-6D0 to send a plea for help to New Republic pilot Carson Teva. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated deluxe figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and 4 entertainment-inspired tool accessories.

Available for pre-order Spring 2024 exclusively at Walmart as part of Walmart Collector Con.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES DARTH VADER

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

STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES DARTH VADER figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE. During the Galactic Civil War, Darth Vader set out to find the Rebel Alliance’s secret location and retrieve the schematics of the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the Death Star. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated deluxe figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and lightsaber accessory.

Available for pre-order 10/25 at 1pm ET at Hasbro Pulse and other major retailers.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES THE MANDALORIAN (MINES OF MANDALORE)

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

STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES THE MANDALORIAN (MINES OF MANDALORE) figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in the third season of STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN. Reunited with Grogu, Din Djarin undertakes a new quest to reclaim a place in Mandalorian society as his scattered people unite to take a stand against the Imperial remnant. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated deluxe figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and 3 entertainment-inspired accessories including the iconic Darksaber as well as knife and blaster accessories.

Available for pre-order 10/25 at 1pm ET at Hasbro Pulse and other major retailers.

Discover even more epic gifts at Amazon (affiliate link).

Which is your favourite announcement from Star Wars: The Black Series? Have you waited for Starkiller to be available separately? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter

LEGO Dune is a thing. LEGO has announced its first-ever Dune build inspired by director Denis Villeneuve’s hit film franchise based on Frank Herbert's original Dune novels.

Measuring 9 inches (23 cm) high, 22 inches (57 cm) long and 31 inches (79 cm) wide, the LEGO Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter features a foldable landing gear – and the set also comes with eight all-new LEGO Minifigures of key characters from Dune, including Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, Gurney Halleck, Chani, Leto Atreides, Liet Kynes, Duncan Idaho and Baron Harkonnen in his long robe.

“Like fans across the world, we were fully enraptured by the epic Dune when it released – so our return to Arakkis in Dune: Part Two was the perfect opportunity to bring this iconic craft to life in LEGO brick form,” said Michael Psiaki, Design Master at the LEGO Group. “Builders can now recreate this impressive ship with amazing detail, whether to proudly display or recreate their favourite scenes from the epic Dune saga at home.”

The LEGO Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter is available to pre-order from 24th October, and on-sale from the 1st February 2024, with the set available to buy in-stores and online.

“Turning a beloved Dune icon into a LEGO masterpiece has always been our dream. The unique and creative design of this product perfectly aligns with both the Dune and LEGO spirit, and we're excited for fans of all ages to enjoy the experience," said Amber Sheppo, Vice President, Consumer Products and Partnerships, Legendary Entertainment.

LEGO Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

What do you think of the LEGO Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter? Let me know in the comments below.

Exhibition celebrates Star Wars and Doctor Who

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who.

An exhibition at Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, celebrates both beloved franchises with a collection of props and merchandise.

The museum said there were more than 100 props on display in what was its 12th annual sci-fi and film event.

Last summer, I attended Unofficial Galaxies, a Star Wars exhibition at Peterborough Cathedral.

Doctor Who returns for three 60th anniversary specials, starring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), this November on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Ncuti Gatwa (Barbie) takes over control of the TARDIS during the holiday season. Millie Gibson (Coronation Street) will join Gatwa aboard the TARDIS as companion Ruby Sunday.

For further information, please visit Moyse's Hall Museum website.

The exhibition opened on 20th October and is due to run until 21st January 2024.

Talking Doctor Who

Talking Doctor Who, presented by David Tennant, is a 60-minute documentary celebrating the 60th anniversary.

Read the official synopsis:

"As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of Doctor Who, David Tennant time travels back through the BBC archives to tell the story of the Doctor’s classic era, with a selection of rarely seen interviews and clips covering William Hartnell’s first incarnation right through to the seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy.

On the way, David compares some of his own experiences with the actors who came before him and shares special archive moments that reveal, amongst other things, how to film a regeneration, which actor was a master of modern gadgetry – including a collapsible caravan – and what the factors were that helped to decide how a Doctor selects his own individual and distinctive costume."

The documentary special coincides with over 800 episodes of classic Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer. This is the first time all eras of the beloved BBC sci-fi series are curated under one roof. An Unearthly Child is omitted due to a rights issue.

Doctor Who returns for three 60th anniversary specials, starring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), this November on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland.

Talking Doctor Who is on BBC4 and BBC iPlayer on 1st November.

Are you looking forward to the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who? Let me know in the comments below.

Gargoyles live-action reboot on Disney+

In the wake of Batman: The Animated Series, Gargoyles was a dark animated series released by Disney.

Featuring the voices of Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis from Star Trek: The Next Generation, it aired from 1994 to 1997 and spawned a successful toy line from Kenner.

According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), the titular Gargoyles are getting a live-action reboot from Gary Dauberman and James Wan’s Atomic Monster on Disney+.

"The Gargoyles are out of the bag," Wan said on Instagram. "Excited to be working with Gary again, on this! He’s a true fan."

The upcoming live-action series is in early development. The original Gargoyles is a gothic masterpiece available on Disney+.

In related news. Gargoyles Remastered (based on the Sega Genisis/Mega Drive 16-bit video game) is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox S|X and PC.

Are you looking forward to Gargoyles in live-action on Disney+? Are you a fan of the original animated series? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who's first story won't be on BBC iPlayer

Doctor Who fans (myself included) were delighted at the recent announcement of classic serials being made available on BBC iPlayer on 1st November. This is the first time all eras of the beloved BBC sci-fi series are curated under one roof.

However, the Doctor's first adventure, An Unearthly Child, won't be on iPlayer. The serial is currently on BritBox and ITVX.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "This massive iPlayer back catalogue will be home to over 800 hours of Doctor Who content, making it the biggest ever collection of Doctor Who programming in one place but will not include the first four episodes as we do not have all the rights to those."

With the 60th anniversary in November, there's going to be lots to look forward to.

Russell T Davies, Doctor Who's returning showrunner, said: "I'd like to thank the BBC for all the hard work to get this massive back catalogue under one roof, at long last.

This includes spin-offs Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Class and the behind-the-scenes series Doctor Who Confidential.

"I'm so excited for new viewers – imagine being eight years old, spending winter afternoons exploring the '60s, '70s, '80s and beyond. And we're determined this won't be a dusty museum – we have exciting plans to bring the back catalogue to life, with much more to be revealed!"

Doctor Who returns for three 60th anniversary specials, starring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), this November on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland.

Are you disappointed An Unearthly Child won't be on BBC iPlayer? Let me know in the comments below.

100 years of Disney

Disney celebrates its 100th anniversary today!

The House of Mouse that Uncle Walt founded in a garage (like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak did with Apple) is now a sprawling multimedia empire encompassing everything from theme parks and streaming to infinity and beyond (couldn't resist a Toy Story reference for fellow fans)!

In the wake of early critical success with Snow White, Fantasia and Pinocchio (an animated classic that traumatised me in childhood), Disney was in the doldrums in the seventies as the company unsuccessfully chased box office trends (I still have a soft spot for The Black Hole) until a renaissance under CEO Michael Eisner with The Little Mermaid.

Leveraging Disney's enviable intellectual property (IP) vault with time-limited releases on VHS was a mercurial move by Eisner. However, I remember seeing store shelves stacked with copies of Fantasia due to a lack of demand.

A creative partnership with Steve Jobs' Pixar (formerly Lucasfilm's Graphics Group) witnessed critical and commercial success in the mid-to-late nineties, culminating in current CEO Bob Iger buying Pixar from Jobs (Jobs had returned to Apple and was overseeing the Cupertino-based company's reinvention into a tech titan) as part of a successful acquisition trail leading to the launch of Disney+.

My childhood is preserved within the walls of the Magic Kingdom with Marvel Comics, Star Wars and soon Doctor Who on Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland.

What's your favourite Disney memory? Let me know in the comments below.

Merry Little Batman

Holy Christmas caper, Batman! Merry Litte Batman, a new animated movie for the holiday season, is coming to Prime Video.

Read the official synopsis:

"Merry Little Batman is an animated family action comedy destined to join the rogue's gallery of classic holiday movies. When young Damian Wayne finds himself alone in Wayne Manor on Christmas Eve, he must transform into "Little Batman'' in order to defend his home and Gotham City from the crooks and supervillains intent on destroying the holidays."

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and based on characters from DC, Merry Little Batman features the voices of Yonas Kibreab, Luke Wilson, James Cromwell, and David Hornsby, and is directed by Mike Roth (Regular Show) from a screenplay by Morgan Evans (Teen Titans Go!) and Jase Ricci (Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham). Roth also serves as executive producer, alongside Sam Register (Looney Tunes Cartoons).

Merry Little Batman was one of the animated projects cancelled at HBO Max in the wake of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Amazon has also acquired Batman: Caped Crusader, from executive producers Bruce Timm, JJ Abrams and Matt Reeves, for Prime Video.

Merry Little Batman will be available on the 8th of December on Prime Video (affiliate link).

Are you looking forward to Merry Little Batman on Prime Video? Let me know in the comments below.

60 years of Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer

This November is the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, and fans (myself included) will be able to journey back in time and watch classic serials from the beginning on BBC iPlayer. Previously, these were only available to stream exclusively on BritBox and ITVX in the UK.

With over 800 episodes of Doctor Who programming on iPlayer, Russell T Davies, returning series showrunner said:

“I’d like to thank the BBC for all the hard work, to get this massive back catalogue under one roof, at long last. I'm so excited for new viewers - imagine being 8 years old, spending winter afternoons exploring the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. And we’re determined this won't be a dusty museum - we have exciting plans to bring the back catalogue to life, with much more to be revealed!”

From 1st November on iPlayer, I'll be rewatching classic serials from the Tom Baker era with my dad - we still talk about The Seeds of Doom to this day!

Dan McGolpin, Director of iPlayer and channels, said:

“Doctor Who has captivated countless millions of viewers on the BBC for 60 years and in celebration of this special moment we are bringing classic series to BBC iPlayer for the first time. Fans will be able to enjoy many of the Doctor’s earliest adventures with William Hartnell right through to the very latest series and the soon-to-be-released and tremendously exciting new anniversary specials with David Tennant. We want everyone to be able to enjoy this breathtaking back catalogue, so we are making each episode on iPlayer as accessible as possible, with subtitles, audio description, and sign language all available for the first time.”

Doctor Who returns for three 60th anniversary specials, starring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), this November on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland.

Are you looking forward to watching classic Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer? Let me know in the comments below.