Doctor Who movie to be announced at Comic Con?

SPECULATION is continuing to materialise, in true TARDIS style, that a new Doctor Who movie starring David Tennant is soon to be announced.

Many fans are expecting the news to come at this month's San Diego Comic Con.

David Tennant and Doctor Who lead writer and executive producer Russell T Davies will be at the massive sci-fi convention on July 26, along with executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn.

Tennant is to appear in three remaining TV specials before his character regenerates into the 11th Doctor Matt Smith, with Steven Moffat taking over from Davies as showrunner.

But it's widely thought that 38-year-old Tennant would return to the role for the big screen.

Long-gestating plans for a movie adaptation of the hit sci-fi series have gained credence over the past few months.

Back in April, Tennant told the Sunday Times he had been offered a sci-fi project he was unable to discuss. It could be seen as a hint at a big-screen adventure.

Then, when it was announced at the end of May that Tennant would be appearing in two episodes of the new series of The Sarah Jane Adventures, which begins in September, the BBC added: "Meanwhile, Doctor Who may be heading for the big screen after a spokeswoman for BBC Films confirmed that 'a script is in development'.

"BBC entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba said there were no guarantees a film would be made and that, if the project went into full production, a release would be a long time away."

A month later, a further clue came in Doctor Who Magazine, in an article in which Russell T Davies announced that a new animated Doctor Who story would be broadcast in the autumn on the BBC's Red Button service and on Children's BBC.

The adventure, called Dreamland and consisting of seven six-minute episodes, will feature an animated version of Tennant along with the actor's voice. Georgia Moffett will return, but not as the Doctor's daughter this time - she will be playing a new character called Cassie Rice.

In the magazine article, Russell T Davies added: "With the Doctor's appearance in the Sarah Jane Adventures as Special Project 1, and the Dreamland animation as Special Project 2, it would be nice to round things off for Doctor Who in 2009 with a Special Project 3, don't you think?

"Well, keep watching. We're working on it. News as and when, but I can promise, it's worth waiting for."

The Daily Express recently quoted "well-placed show insiders" saying that while Tennant may be handing over the Time Lord mantle to Matt Smith on the small screen, he will return to the role for the planned movie.

An insider told the newspaper: "The script is still in the early stages but David wants to be in the film. There have already been discussions and David needs to feel the story is right but right now things are looking very positive.

"Potentially, it's the perfect scenario for him. He understandably wants to go off and do different roles but he still loves Doctor Who. If the film takes off and there's demand for more, he can continue to play the Doctor occasionally without having the pressure of the relentless schedule that the TV series demands.

Doctor Who last appeared in cinemas when the late Peter Cushing played the character in Dr. Who and the Daleks, released in 1965, and Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. released in 1966. Both were big-budget retellings of the first two Dalek serials on TV.

Paul McGann starred as the Time Lord in a 1996 TV movie, the only small-screen appearance of the Eighth Doctor.

The insider added: "It's certainly feasible that David could be the Doctor on film while Matt does the series. As all fans know, as it's Doctor Who, David's story can easily be set in a different time to Matt's. That's one of the great things about the show - anything can happen."

Further rumours have arisen with the news that Tennant and Davies will be at San Diego Comic Con.

"Time to announce a film?", suggested the Doctor Who fansite Kasterborous (named after the constellation in which the Time Lord's planet Gallifrey was located) amid the online speculation that has been simmering these past few months.

Torchwood will also be at Comic Con, with star John Barrowman joining Davies, Gardner and Lyn on a panel later the same day.

I have an exclusive cast interview to publish, in several parts, over the coming days as we get ready for Torchwood: Children of Earth to begin its five-day run on Monday.