A full move to the US on the cards?

20th Century TV's Jeff McDonnell

It seems quite paradoxical that whilst the future of Torchwood is in considerable doubt, with Starz appearing to favour other projects & Welsh TV supremo, Russell T. Davies rumoured to be in discussions about 'another adult drama', there's mounting speculation about a 'Torchwood related movie'.

Jeff McDonnell from 20th Century TV's internal broadsheet, 'Screenplay' commented today that a potential movie came a step or two closer, with Californian director Chris Carter (X Files, Millennium, Invasion) said to be in the frame as possible 'showrunner'.

McDonnell had earlier revealed that 20th Century, along with FOX were 'interested in theory' in an all-US spin-off, but that no further details were as yet available. He was also unwilling to say whether the project under consideration was a made-for-TV special, or a movie aimed at general cinema release.

Russell T. Davies - Wales' Number 1 show-runner!

GWTV tried to contact Russell T. Davies for comment, but he was unavailable.






GWTV will keep you posted!

(c) Great Welsh TV, March 2012

Torchwood - Where next?

As Torchwood sits in limbo, somewhere in between cancellation & a slightly begrudged reappearance, it's announced on ITV 'This Morning' that the show has been 'axed'. Incorrect, perhaps - but did ITV let slip something not yet quite meant to be in the public domain? 

Time will tell: but what are the realistic options for Torchwood?

Torchwood, the cast from Series 1 on set in Cardiff.

Fans appear to be divided. At one end of the scale, some say Torchwood should have been laid to rest at the ed of 'Children of Earth'. The Earth - saved, largely in tact. 

Jack, broken - but free to travel with the Doctor. Gwen - safe with Rhys & baby Anwen on the way. Torchwood - a fading memory, a mere fleeting reference in future episodes of 'Doctor Who'.

Others ask for a return to pre-CoE Torchwood, with a new series focusing on Jack's missing years, and the reappearance of the much-missed 'Monster of the week'. 

Eve Myles and Kai Owen have both publicly called for a Torchwood 'movie' to give some kind of closure to the show for fans. Though this is unlikely due to the high cost of film production - it is a valid suggestion, one which in some form or other, could one day bear fruit. The question is, were 'Torchwood - The Movie' to become a reality, would this be a UK, or a US production, and if a co-production, who would press the buttons? Would the movie resemble 'real' Torchwood - or would we once again be forced to delve into unfamiliar - and generally unwanted territory?

Starz have not quite ruled out more Torchwood, but have hinted if there is more, it may be a long way off. However, should Starz remain involved in the show, at best, we'd get more 'Miracle Day' - and fans are not entirely convinced that's what they'd want.

Perhaps the reins could be returned to BBC Cymru Wales, and the show, to its roots. Indeed, the most popular option, by far!

(c) Great Welsh TV, March 2012

Torchwood - What went wrong?

John Barrowman, filming of 'Miracle Day' in Cardiff in Feb, 2011.

Torchwood is currently 'in limbo' and networks seem in not too urgent a hurry to revive it. 

Starz seem to have quietly forgotten it, at least for now; BBC Wales are up to their necks in cuts & other projects - and show-runner Russell T. Davies, supposedly taking time out with his seriously-ill partner, Andrew - is actually hard at work in Cardiff, attending to his new & highly anticipated CBBC blockbuster, 'Wizards vs. Aliens'. 

For him, too, Torchwood seems not the most pressing of priorities. It's not hard to see why things have gone so quiet right now. 

After the fun & japes of Series 1, the hard-hitting stories from Series 2 - and the dizzy heights and very acceptable viewing figures of the chilling 'Children of Earth' we had 'Miracle Day' - a transatlantic romp about as closely related to Torchwood as the Jerry Springer Show - where characters were about as real & genuine as a stash of Polish printed £7 banknotes. 

'Miracle Day' reduced the once masterful alpha-male Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) to a weakened, barely-visible character playing a very definite second fiddle to an unconvincing Rex Matheson (Mekhi Pfifer), whilst 'family wife' and ex Cardiff policewoman Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) suddenly became a Welsh Lara Croft, complete with Hollywood designer clothing & unbelievable new confidence - even when out of Wales!

The unwelcome move away from South Wales to LA; a whole host of faux-pas including some excruciatingly bad (and unnecessary) seduction scenes and the poorly-judged insistence that a primarily-American audience needed to constantly be reminded of Jack Harkness' sexuality caused irritation to UK viewers - and led to a total collapse of viewing figures in Australia & New Zealand. 

A disappointing, over-explained storyline with more red herrings than the reject freezer at an Icelandic trawler convention & more false starts than a hyperactive relay racer further turned all but hardened fans away from the show, and what promised to be a valiant return ultimately became little more than a damp squib.

It later transpired that Starz, the US network which partnered BBC Wales was not exactly the neutral co-funder we were initially told to expect. Indeed - they took an active interest in the storyline, and insisted on subtle changes and re-takes. Russell T. Davies was said to be 'cross' when Starz insisted CIA agent Rex Matheson not only survive Miracle Day, but end up an immortal character, like Jack Harkness.

Chris Albrecht, Starz' CEO.

It's believed Starz wanted to maintain an option on their own version of Torchwood, with Matheson as their 'key Immortal', should the show take the States by storm, and should the BBC not wish to continue with the series. However, with viewing figures in the US mediocre at best - and with newer, fresher projects having taken Albrecht's eye, it's not difficult why Starz may have had a change of heart. 

In Britain, it's clear 'Miracle Day' didn't hit the right note for mass appeal, and there's no general clamour for a new series. It would take something special to put Torchwood back on the right tracks!

(c) Great Welsh TV March, 2012

The New Earth, or the cutting-room floor?

Had a lengthy Twitter exchange last night with Carole - a mega JB fan & like me, lover of Torchwood Seasons 1 & 2. Both of us hated Season 3 with venomous passion.

Carole's view (and I think, hope) is that a US-based Season 4 featuring just Gwên & Jack is bound to fail, and will be abandoned by past fans.

What's your view?

Torchwood: The New Earth

Hmm.. Torchwood, The New Earth. Filming begins on Jan 11. However, few of the original characters remain, it's largely US based & produced, and it promises to be 'dark, bleak & depressing. Don't think I want to watch it!

Watch out for flying egos!

For those who hated Russell T. Davies’ Torchwood: Children of Earth, perhaps due to its sheer bleakness & ethos of organisational deconstruction, these quotes from RTD will come as no comfort. I’ve a feeling I won’t be watching Season 5.

Has RTD’s almighty ego over-inflated so much that its now obscuring his vision & causing him to lose the plot totally?

http://sciencefictionworld.com/tv/science-fiction-tv/560-torchwood-season-4-due-2011-darker-than-ever.html

Ianto's place...

Anyone in or around Cardiff, a bit of recycling’s needed over at Ianto’s place, the Hub, Mermaid Quay. There’s a bit of water damage, and a number of tributes are a bit mouldy.

There’s definitely a need for a fresh-n-up & some new pix / cards! Still, loads of daily visitors.

Today I spoke with some TW enchanted Spaniards, Germans who loved Ianto & some girls from Porthcawl who’d come down with Xmas cards ;-)