Sherlock Holmes coming to the BBC with a modern day spin

Robert Downey Jr is starring as a different take on Holmes and now it looks as if there will be a another version.

The BBC confirmed today it has commissioned the first series of the new Sherlock Holmes series, written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, as three ninety minute episodes.

Moffat is the new Doctor Who showrunner and Tintin screenplay writer, Gatiss is best known as a member of comedy troupe, The League Of Gentlemen.

Gattiss, was one of the four creators of League Of Gentlemen, has writtne episodes of Dr Who and the Lucifer Box novels.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Fortysomething and The Last Enemy) will star as Holmes with The Office’s Martin Freeman as Doctor Watson, set in 2009 London, remaking Holmes as a “dynamic superhero” figure. Rupert Graves plays Inspector Lestrade and Coky Giedroyc will direct the series.

Not sure if this is a great idea or whether it will blow great big chunks of cheese. The fact Moffat is involved means it should hopefully be good.

Source: Bleeding Cool

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The new Doctor's new companion has been cast

A virtually unknown actress as been picked to partner new Time Lord, the virtually unknown actor, Matt Smith in the latest series of Doctor Who, to be broadcast later this year. Karen Gillan, 21, will play the Doctor's assistant in the BBC's prime-time sci-fi drama.

It is thought Gillan, who played a Roman soothsayer in an episode in the last series of Doctor Who, was chosen so as not to overshadow Smith - the youngest Doctor ever - in his first season as David Tennant's replacement.

Writer and executive producer Steven Moffat told the BBC that Gillan is funny, clever, gorgeous and sexy: "A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her, too."

Gillan, an alumnus of London's Italia Conti drama school, has appeared in Scottish detective drama Rebus and Channel 4 fashion drama Stacked. She will also appear in British horror film Outcast (that's the one starring James Nesbitt that I've mentioned a while back), which is in production.

After her unveiling, Gillan said: "I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion - I just can't wait to get started. The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it."

Source: FP

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Dr Who - Gillian Anderson may be The Rani

The Telegraph is reporting that former "The X-Files" star and now UK resident Gillian Anderson is being pursued to play a villain in an episode of the fifth season Dr Who airing in 2010. The so-called insider says the most likely role would be The Doctor's other Time Lord rival, The Rani.

Kate O'Mara previously played the exiled Time Lady who commits insidious experiments in the name of her research. Since 'Who' was revived in 2005 however, rumors of The Rani casting have proven fruitless in the past with the likes of "Footballers Wives" star Zoe Lucker being linked by the tabloids years ago.

Also unknown at present is if the most notable of the remaining 'Who-verse' alien races not yet introduced, such as the Ice Warriors or the Silurians/Sea Devils, will be included in the fifth season which sees a new Doctor (Matt Smith) and showrunner (Stephen Moffat). Filming on the fifth season kicks off in a few months.

Anderson is about to star alongside former Doctor Christopher Eccleston on stage in "A Doll's House".

Source: Dark Horizons

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Tintin news - Daniel Craig is the big bad and Jamie Bell is Tintin

Collider have some news on the Tintin movie.

It's going to be called The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn.

Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, King Kong) will be playing Tintin after Thomas Sangster dropped out.

Daniel Craig will be playing the nefarious "Red Rackham". Craig previously worked with producer and director of the first Tintin film Steven Spielberg on Munich.

The film will co-star Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook. All will be doing the motion capture dance.

Finally the script is being writtern by Edgar Wright (Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), Steven Moffat (Dr Who, Press Gang) and Joe Cornish (Adam & Joe).

All in all good news for the Tintin film.

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UPDATED: New Dr Who named today

UPDATE: The new Doctor has been anounced and it is not who we thought. Read more here.

The name of the actor who will replace David Tennant in Doctor Who will be announced today in the 5:35pm Dr Who Confidential on BBC1. I still think it will be Paterson Joseph as I mentioned back in October (here is some footage as to why he would be a great Doctor).
This from the BBC website.

Tennant said in October that he would stand down from the show after filming four special episodes in 2009.

The casting was confirmed over Christmas and filming for the 2010 series begins in the summer.

Tennant is due to begin shooting the first of his four specials this month, just weeks after surgery on his back.

David Tennant says he is envious of his replacement, whose 'life will change'

The last of these episodes is expected to run in early 2010.

The casting decision has been a priority for the show's new creative team, led by executive producers Steven Moffat and Piers Wenger.

The BBC said that in Saturday's Doctor Who special "the actor playing the new Doctor will be giving his or her initial reaction" to becoming TV's most famous time traveller.

Wenger, head of drama at BBC Wales, said: "We believe the actor is going to bring something very special to the role and will make it absolutely their own.

"I just can't wait to tell everyone who it is - it has been a nail-biting Christmas trying to keep this under wraps!"

Shortly after Tennant's announcement, bookmakers were tipping several well-known names as the next actor (or actress) to step into the Tardis.

Murphy's Law and Cold Feet star James Nesbitt emerged as one of the favourites, along with Paterson Joseph, John Simm and David Morrissey - who appeared in the 2008 Christmas special.

Paterson Joseph, who recently starred in Survivors and appeared in two Doctor Who episodes in 2005, has said "any actor would love the challenge" of playing the Time Lord.

Bookmakers made him an early favourite - offering odds of 3-1 on him becoming the first black Doctor.

Comedian Jennifer Saunders, former Doctor Who assistant Billie Piper and film star Catherine Zeta Jones have also been mentioned in connection with the role.

The show's outgoing executive producer Russell T Davies said last month: "Whoever becomes the Doctor has got to take on a whole life. It's not just becoming a part of a TV show."

In October, when Tennant was asked who he thought should replace him, he joked: "Well, I've always been a big supporter of Wee Jimmy Krankie!"

Doctor Who began in 1963, and seven actors played the Doctor before the show was dropped in 1989.

After a TV movie in 1996 - starring Paul McGann - the TV series returned in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston in the lead role. Tennant took over the role the same year.

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The next Dr Who could be....?

Lying in the Gutters have a rumour on who could possibly be the next Doctor.

The sixth series of “Doctor Who” (2011) will star Paterson Joseph as The Doctor.

Previously playing Roderick in the “Doctor Who” episodes “Bad Wolf”/”Parting Of Ways,” Joseph is known for fine upstanding and terribly-well-spoken-dontcha-know roles as Johnson in “Peep Show<,” the Marquis De Carabas in “Neverwhere,” Space Marshall Clarke in “Hyperdrive,” Lyndon in “Green Wing”…

…and more importantly Benjamin in “Jekyll.” Written and produced by upcoming “Doctor” Who showrunner, Steven Moffat.

If true, it’s a great call on Moffat’s part. A damn fine call. Paterson has a very British Authority approach to many of his characters, comparable with Jon Pertwee. It’s not a traditional choice, but then neither was Christopher Eccleston. And, like I say, it’s bloody brilliant.

I posted another article the other day that mentioned David Tennant would love to stay on as the Doctor. However, Lying in the Gutters are usually on the ball (although they do mention this is still very much unconfirmed). I have to agree with their view though. Paterson would be a pretty cool Doctor. The fact he also starred in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and Gaiman is meant to be writing for Dr Who next year may also be a factor. What do you think of the rumour?

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Dr Who Christmas Special -Cybermen News

The latest issue of SFX has news of Steven Moffat and his time at the Comic Con. He mentions the footage for the Dr Who Christmas Special that was shown and it featured "feral, furry-bodied mutant Cybermen" which sounds interesting.

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Will Tennant be Dr Who for Longer?

Rumours are going around that David Tennant is about to sign a deal making him the Dr until 2010. The BBC have apparantly offered him a substantial wad to keep him in the role and I'm sure many fans, including my son, will be overjoyed with the news. Just waiting for confirmation that he has definitely signed up. When he does he'll be back working with Steven Moffat on the new series.

Read more here.

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