Doctor Who: 13th Doctor to star in short story for updated Doctor Who anthology

The new series of Doctor Who starring Jodie Whittaker is set to arrive with a whole host of extra material and written spin-offs when the series returns later this autumn.

We already knew the Thirteenth Doctor was set to star in her own comic series just like the Doctors before her, it’s now been revealed that she’ll also be immortalised in short story form for updated book series Thirteen Doctors, 13 stories.

This collection of short stories by well-known authors is an update of a project originally completed for Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary in 2013, where writers like Eoin Colfer, Neil Gaiman and Malorie Blackman were tasked with creating adventures for every incarnation of the Doctor from William Hartnell right up to then-Doctor Matt Smith.

A couple of years later, the project was updated with a Twelfth story for Peter Capaldi’s Doctor, and now according to Penguin’s website Doctor Thirteen is also being added to the roster ahead of her debut.

Described as “a new version of this much-loved anthology, with a brand-new story featuring the brand-new Thirteenth Doctor,” the collection will be released on 6th September, though as of yet it’s unclear who will be writing Whittaker’s debut story.

Read the description of the anthology below.

Twelve wonderful tales of adventure, science, magic, monsters and time travel – featuring all twelve Doctors – are waiting for you in this very special Doctor Who book.
And now they’re joined by a very exciting, and very exclusive, new tale that will star the Thirteenth Doctor, as she battles to save the universe with her three close and trusted friends.

Other authors in the anthology include Michael Scott, Marcus Sedgwick, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness (who created Doctor Who spin-off Class), Richelle Mead, Alex Scarrow, Charlie Higson, Derek Landy and Holly Black. We can hardly wait to see who’ll be joining their ranks for the new story.

Doctor Who: Thirteen Doctors 13 Stories will be released on 6th September

Credit: Radio Times

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Freema Agyeman Cast in new US Drama Pilot NBC’s 'Bellevue'

Doctor Who alumna Freema Agyeman and Anupam Kher (The Big Sick) are set for series regulars roles in NBC’s Bellevue hospital hourlong drama pilot from David Schulner, Peter Horton and Universal TV.

Written by Schulner, the Bellevue drama is produced by Dr. Eric Manheimer, MD, the former medical director at New York City’s Bellevue Hospital and author of the memoir Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital which inspired the series.

The character-driven medical drama follows the new director of Bellevue Hospital, whose maverick approach disrupts the status quo while always prioritizing patient care. Located in Manhattan, Bellevue is the only hospital in the world that has the capability to treat Ebola patients, prisoners from Rikers Island and the President of the United States all under one roof.

Agyeman will play Dr. Hana Sharpe, the lead doctor at the hospital who has not practiced medicine in a while. Rather, she appears on talk shows across the country pitching Bellevue hospital. Kher will portray Dr. Anil Kapoor, one of the oldest doctors at the hospital. He believes the hospital needs to change but does not feel he needs to change his ways.

Agyeman is known for her role as Martha Jones on Doctor Who. She and Kher worked together recently on Netflix’s Sense8.  Agyeman is repped by WME and Independent Talent Group.

Kher co-starred in The Family Man opposite Gerard Butler, Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina, and most recently starred in The Big Sick opposite Kumail Nanjiani, Ray Romano and Holly Hunter. He’s repped by LINK Entertainment, United Agents and attorney Rick Genow.

Credit: Deadline.com

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First look at Jenna Coleman's "thrilling" new BBC One drama The Cry

Filming on Former Doctor Who Companion Jenna Coleman's new thriller series The Cry has begun, and now the BBC has released two first-look images from the four-part psychological drama.

Based on the novel by Helen Fitzgerald, the series follows Joanna (Coleman) and her husband Alistair (Top of the Lake's Ewen Leslie) as they are forced to face an unthinkable tragedy when her baby is abducted in a small rural town in Australia.

As Joanna and Alistair travel from Scotland to Australia to visit Alistair's mother and fight his ex-wife for custody of Alistair's daughter, the couple struggle to cope as they're thrust under intense public scrutiny while trying to deal with their personal trauma and keep their marriage afloat.

Over the series' four episodes, The Cry chronicles the disintegrating psychology of a young woman, exposing the myths and truths of motherhood, while also focusing on the collapse of a marriage in the aftermath of a tragedy.

Alongside the two images, The Cry has also confirmed its full cast line-up, featuring a huge array of big names.

In addition to Coleman and Leslie, we'll also be seeing The Crown's Stella Gonet as Alistair's mother Elizabeth, X-Men: Origins actress Asher Keddie as Alistair's ex-wife Alexandra and Romper Stomper's Markella Kavenagh as Alistair and Alexandra's daughter Chloe.

The cast is rounded out by The Danish Girl's Sophie Kennedy Clark, Wentworth's Shareena Clanton and Seven Types of Ambiguity actor Alex Dimitriades.

The Cry will be filmed in Scotland and Australia (in Glasgow and Melbourne if you want to be precise) and marks the first scripted television commission for Scottish-based production company Synchronicity Films.

"The start of shooting marks an incredible moment for our company as we start production on what is a truly international drama with Scottish roots," the company's executive producer Claire Mudell said in a statement.

"We could not be more thrilled to be shooting the show in the incredible Australian light of Melbourne, and contrasting that with the beautiful West End of Glasgow."

The Cry will air on BBC One in the UK and ABC in Australia.

Info from: Digital Spy

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Almost Human to air on Watch in the UK

So as I mentioned in a previous post (2nd January 2014) Almost Human had not been picked up by a UK broadcaster... until now..

US sci-fi drama Almost Human has found a UK home.

The Fox series - from JJ Abrams and Fringe showrunner Joel Wyman - has been acquired by Watch.

The UKTV channel will air Almost Human later in 2014.

The 13-part first season stars Karl Urban as John Kennex, a tech-phobic detective in the year 2048.

Kennex must learn to adapt when he is partnered with an eccentric android partner - Michael Ealy's Dorian.

Watch previously acquired another US sci-fi thriller from JJ Abrams. Believe - a collaboration with Alfonso Cuarón - will debut on the channel tonight (March 27) at 9pm.

UKTV's director of programme acquisitions Catherine Mackin said: "Almost Human is a multilayered, gripping drama and it perfectly complements supernatural drama Believe."

Almost Human wrapped its first season earlier this month on Fox in the US.

Source: Digital Spy 

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Marvel's Agent Carter TV show has "really good" script, says ABC boss

Marvel's Agent Carter TV show is under consideration for a series pick-up, ABC boss Paul Lee has confirmed.

Lee described the script - written by Captain America: The Winter Soldier team Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeeley - as "really good".

"That certainly has a chance to be on the network," he said at the TCA press tour.

ABC Studios is also developing online only series - including Daredevil and Iron Fist -with Netflix.

Lee described the Netflix projects as "super-fan shows" as opposed to the "big, broad" series on ABC.

"We think it's a great balance, and the ABC Studios side of it are really enjoying it, as are Marvel," he said.

Hayley Atwell - who plays Peggy Carter in Marvel's movies - is reported to have signed up to reprise her role for the small screen.

Atwell previously told Digital Spy that she would be eager to star in the TV show and "show different sides of Peggy".

Source: Digital Spy

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New Shows with no UK Broadcasters!

At the moment there are a number of new US shows that are becoming very successful and some are yet to air, but so far no UK broadcasters have picked them up. Most of them live up to the sci-fi element :)

Here are but a few of them.

Almost Human

The series is set 35 years into the future when humans in the Los Angeles Police Department are paired up with life-like androids, as a detective who has a dislike for robots ends up being teamed up with one with emotional feelings.

Star Crossed

About an epic romance between a human girl and an alien boy when he and eight others of his kind are integrated into a suburban high school 10 years after they landed on Earth and were consigned to an internment camp.

Intelligence

A drama centered on a high-tech intelligence operative who is enhanced with a super-computer microchip in his brain, and the director of the elite government cyber-security agency who supports him.

Crisis

Centers on an idealistic Secret Service agent who finds himself at the center of an international crisis on his first day on the job. In his search for the truth, he will have to cross moral and legal lines as he navigates the highest levels of power and corruption.

Reign

Chronicles the rise to power of Mary Queen of Scots (Kane) when she arrives in France as a 15-year-old, betrothed to Prince Francis, and with her three best friends as ladies-in-waiting. It details the secret history of survival at French Court amidst fierce foes, dark forces, and a world of sexual intrigue.

i'll update when there is news of any pick ups.

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Sneak Peek at Upcoming US Series - The 100!

The 100 (The Hundred) is based on the book by author Kass Morgan. 

The Storyline is as follows: 

Set 97 years after a nuclear war has destroyed civilization, when a spaceship housing humanity's lone survivors sends 100 juvenile delinquents back to Earth in hopes of possibly re-populating the planet.

I am currently reading the book and it is really good I would recommend it.

The show will air in the US on the channel The CW on 19th March 2014 and will air in the UK on the Channel E4 on an currently Unknown date.

View the trailer below:

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Martin Freeman almost missed out on Sherlock role due to bad audition

Martin Freeman has revealed that he almost missed out on the role of Dr Watson in Sherlock.

The 42-year-old star of The Hobbit revealed to Radio Times, that his first audition was not successful after being a victim of robbery earlier in the day.

Freeman said that he felt distracted in the audition and meeting with producers, after he was targeted by a thief and had his wallet stolen.

"I'll admit maybe I was a bit stressed," said the actor, who stars alongside his real-life partner Amanda Abbington in the third series of the hit BBC One drama - which returns next week.

"But a week later my agent rang and said, 'Listen, this Sherlock thing, they're sort of under the impression you weren't that into it.' And I said 'Oh... I am really interested. Please call them and let them know that I am interested.' I wasn't being blase about it at all. I just wasn't on my best day."

Freeman then added that it was a chemistry test with co-star Benedict Cumberbatch that ensured he got the role.

"I came in again, read with Benedict and it instantly worked, it seemed to me... I thought he was a fantastic actor and there was something about our rhythms, similarities and differences that meant that it just happened."

Sherlock returns on BBC One, January 1, 9pm.

Source: Digital Spy

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