Does Doctor Who Have a Big Screen Future?

Posted by Robin Ruinsky (robin@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 26, 2008

Calling all “Doctor Who” fans! The first big screen adventure for “Doctor Who” has become a glimmer on the horizon, a teeny glimmer, but a glimmer just the same. From the title of the article over at The Hollywood Reporter you’d think there was a solid deal in the works for a film version of “Doctor Who”. It appears to more rumination than reality at this point.

Steven Moffat, who has won BAFTA awards for his “Doctor Who” scripts, has said he feels it could be the right time for the Doctor to move to the big screen, but he makes no firm commitment to the idea. Moffat took over the creative direction of the show after the departure of Russell T. Davies.

Since “Doctor Who” debuted on BBC television in 1963, there have been many Doctors over the course of the series starting with William Hartnell to the current Doctor, David Tennant (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Casanova).

For anyone who doesn’t know, “Doctor Who” is a time traveler by way of a time traveling ship, TARDIS that looks like a police box from the outside. The series has never seemed to flag in popularity since its debut.

Considering the season finale of “Doctor Who” drew an audience of 10 million, adapting it for a film seems like a good idea.

THR was at a master class in Edinburgh, Scotland, that Moffat was teaching about, who else? “Doctor Who”. It was there he shared his opinion of a “Doctor Who” film.

“It would be good to see it in the cinema so long as it is great and fantastic,”

A reasonable conclusion since a really bad “Doctor Who” film wouldn’t go over well with devoted fans. He continued with a caution about Doctor Who’s big screen future:

“I’m not against it … so long as it never gets in the way of the TV show. If it got in the way of the show that would be appalling.”

It seems to me that a big screen “Doctor Who” would only make “Doctor Who” fans happier, more content human beings who would then want to see even more “Doctor Who” on television. A really good film could even create new “Doctor Who” fans.

So, there you have it. Steven Moffat is not against it as long as it’s really fantastic and doesn’t interfere with the television series. He doesn’t exactly give a ringing endorsement or set a time table for a “Doctor Who” film, but there’s a glimmer of hope for “Doctor Who” fans that at least the idea is being considered.

Do you think it’s time for Doctor Who to take his adventures to the big screen?

Read more articles by Robin Ruinsky