Back in September when renowned sci-fi author Neil Gaiman won the Hugo Award for his ‘Doctor Who’ script, ‘The Doctor’s Wife,’ he teased that he was writing a new ‘Doctor Who’ script. “Only a fool or a mad man would try to do it again . . . so I’m on the third draft,” he commented during his acceptance speech. That script is now finished and in a press release from the BBC, it has now been revealed that the nemesis of Gaiman’s episode will be none other than the Cybermen!
“Cybermen were always the monsters that scared me the most,” said executive producer and show runner Steven Moffat. “Not just because they were an awesome military force, but because sometimes they could be sleek and silver and right behind you without you even knowing.”
Created by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis, the Cybermen first appeared on the series in 1966 in the episode ‘The Tenth Planet’ during the reign of the first Doctor, William Hartnell. They were last seen fighting the 11th Doctor in the 2011 episode ‘Closing Time,’ in which the Doctor had returned to visit his old friend Craig and his baby, Alfie (aka Stormageddon).
Upon the release of the news this morning, Gaiman tweeted:
When asked if his episode would be scary, Gaiman responded, “I hope so.”
The final script was turned in by Gaiman last Friday and although the read through is said to take place today, not very many details about his episode is being revealed. What is known is that the episode will be directed by Stephen Woolfenden who has worked as a second unit director on some of the ‘Harry Potter’ films, and will star Warwick Davis (‘Harry Potter’ films, ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,’ ‘Life’s Too Short’), Tamzin Outhwaite (‘East Enders,’ ‘Great Expectations’) and Jason Watkins (UK’s ‘Being Human,’ ‘Psychoville’) as a band of misfits the Doctor and his new companion, played by Jenna Louise Coleman, encounter on a mysterious planet.
“… with one of the all-time classic monsters returning, and a script from one of our finest novelists, it’s no surprise we have attracted such stellar names as Tamzin, Jason and Warwick,” says Moffat.
So what do you think fellow Whovians? Are you ready for another Cybermen adventure or were you hoping Gaiman would have brought back another classic Who villain like the Omega or the Celestial Toymaker?
