After a “game changing” 2014 that saw the introduction of Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, the World Tour, a successful Series 8 and so much more, what can we expect to make the headlines in 2015? lets take a brief look at some of the events, releases and things we expect in the year ahead, with a healthy dose of speculation thrown into the mix.
With principal photography beginning today on Series 9 (for Episode 4), it appears that the upcoming series will be following a vaguely similar path to 2014, with the cast and crew of the series shooting over the next few months for a late-summer or early autumn broadcast. Deep Breath aired on the second to final Saturday of August 2014 and it would be no surprise if Series 9 repeated the schedule.
The opening episode of the series will be called The Magician’s Apprentice as we know, written by Steven Moffat. While nothing more is known about the episode, Deep Breath of course ran for 75 minutes to open the last Series and whether The Magician’s Apprentice will similarly have an extended runtime is mere speculation. That said, director Daniel O’Hara’s online CV states he is working on two 60 minute episodes of the show this year. There is however nothing to suggest this is not a mistake, nor that his episodes include the opener.
Series 8 gained some level of criticism in the national press, who, despite positive reviews, took issue with the show’s new “dark” outlook and raised the old “no longer suitable for the little ones” argument alongside highlighting complaints from a mere handful of viewers. While much of the criticism may stem from general hostility toward the BBC, it remains to be seen if there is any change in ethos for the new series following the coverage, or whether the hostility dissipates in 2015.
While Jenna Coleman may have finally decided to stay with the Doctor Who for Series 9, we wouldn’t think she will stay beyond the series and would expect Clara to be written out following either the series finale or 2015 Christmas special. With the Doctor referring to his look as “magician” several times during last years run, we wonder whether the “magician’s apprentice” of the series opener may refer to the introduction of a second companion.
In terms of guests, we wouldn’t be willing to bet against a return for the Paternoster Gang, nor Michelle Gomez as Missy/The Master after the latter hinted she was to return to the show in the future. The Daleks seem contractually obliged to appear and Alex Kingston has hinted she may yet return in a recent interview, but we believe that story to be wrapped up. That is unless of course we see familiar faces as a tribute of sorts to the ongoing series’ tenth anniversary, outside of a full-blown anniversary special which doesn’t seem to be in the works. Whether the series arc focuses on the “hunt for Gallifrey” may depend on producer Steven Moffat’s future as you have to believe he will want to wrap the loose ends up before any departure.
Given the last series’ record popularity in the United States and elsewhere abroad, we hope to see more promotion beyond our shores and possibly a repeat to last years World Tour, there is nothing to suggest yet that will be the case but continuing foreign promotion will surely still be high on the agenda in the coming year.
In news outside of Series 9, it was an immense year for Big Finish Productions in 2014 with 2015 set to be even bigger!
Kicking off the year in style, Andrew Smith returns to his roots in January’s Mistfall featuring the return of the Marshmen alongside Nicholas Brigg’s Exillons and the first two of four Virgin adaptations - The English Way of Death and The Romance of Crime. The Gareth Roberts pair will be joined in May by The Well-Mannered War (also by Roberts) and Russell T. Davies’ Damaged Goods.
Other highlights to watch out for include the return of Omega in Gallifrey: Intervention Earth, more Jago & Litefoot, Dark Eyes 4, the fourth Tom Baker series (including a return to Telos), the Locum Doctors Trilogy, the return of the Daleks alongside Sylvester McCoy and Bonnie Langford, more Rani in November, more Early Adventures, The Third Doctor Adventures with Tim Treloar, plus much much more.
In other merchandising we can expect further releases in the Twelfth Doctor range from BBC Books, the collected Time Trips in March and the James Goss adaptation of City of Death in May.
Other audio releases throughout the year include unabridged releases of Corpse Marker, Last of the Gaderene, The Roundheads, Human Nature, Frontios, The Deadly Assassin, Full Circle, The Two Doctors, the Massacre and last years Twelfth Doctor releases. There will also be the first Twelfth Doctor audio exclusives - Gods of Winter by James Goss and The House of Winter by George Mann.
Should the wind be blowing in the right direction, we may even get the partially animated Underwater Menace!
Heres to what looks certain to be a fantastic year in the world of Doctor Who!
Thank you for joining us on the journey.
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