The BBC announced that Ben Wheatley, of Kill List fame, would be among the very first to direct Doctor Who when it airs in late 2014. As a fan of the show, Wheatley brings an enthusiasm to the project.
In speaking about his love for the Doctor Who franchise, Wheatley told the BBC:
I am very excited and honoured to be asked to direct the first two episodes of the new series of Doctor Who. I’ve been a fan since childhood (Tom Baker is my Doctor if you are asking). I’ve been watching the current run of Doctor Who with my son and have discovered it all over again. The work that has been done is amazing…I’m really looking forward to working with Peter Capaldi and finding out where Steven Moffat is planning to take the new Doctor.
Additionally, Wheatley spoke to Screen Daily where he stated:
I am very excited and honoured to be asked to direct the first two episodes of the new series of Doctor Who. I’ve been a fan since childhood…I’ve been watching the current run of Doctor Who with my son and have discovered it all over again. The work that has been done is amazing.
There will be a fairly long hiatus between the end of the eleventh Doctor’s run and the lion’s share of the twelfth’s. Matt Smith will star in the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special entitled “The Day of the Doctor” to air on November 23 and the Doctor Who Christmas Special before turning over the reigns to Peter Capaldi at the end of the Christmas episode.
On top of these announcements comes news that showrunner Steven Moffat is going to have a lengthy interview in Wednesday’s edition of SFX Magazine. He is slated to explain more about the “in-between Doctor” who will be appearing in the 50th Anniversary Special who is to be played by veteran actor John Hurt. SFX has teased a bit of Wednesday’s interview today. Moffat is in his usual provocative and somewhat outlandish form stating:
Why not a mayfly Doctor, who exists for one show only? I’d often thought about that. Would it be weird in the run of the series to have the 45th Doctor turn up and be played by Johnny Depp or someone? Would that be a cool thing to do?
Moffat goes on to qualify, that after weighing several options, he came up with the John Hurt storyline. The full details will be released on Thursday.