For DOCTOR WHO fans, the annual Doctor Who Christmas special feels very much like an additional gift from an overly-generous sci-fi Santa Claus. This year, the long-running BBC science fiction adventure series has something truly momentous planned for viewers, as the special, “Twice Upon a Time,” is coming to U.S. movie theaters for one night only.
The upcoming DOCTOR WHO event will feature the exit of Peter Capaldi’s 12th Doctor and introduce fans to Jodie Whittaker as the first woman to ever play the role. The Christmas special will arrive in U.S. theaters on Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. local time. Promptly after the screening, attendees will be treated to two exclusive pieces of bonus content that will take audience members behind the scenes of the holiday special and celebrate Capaldi's bow from the program, who has led the series since 2013. In addition to Capaldi's departure, Steven Moffat will also be exiting his role as showrunner for the series.
As a featured aspect of the upcoming holiday special, the episode will gather a number of previously generated doctors such as GAME OF THRONES star David Bradley, who will appear as the First Doctor, a role originated by the late William Hartnell who helped launch the series in 1963. Oddly, the special will also feature Pearl Mackie as Bill, Capaldi's latest companion. I say oddly because, if you're current with the show, Mackie's character has um … changed a lot since she first came onto the DOCTOR WHO scene. Matt Gattis (a writer on the show) will also play a role.
In talking about the upcoming episode, Fathom Events VP of Programming Kymberli Frueh said, "“’Twice Upon a Time’ will mark the 16th cinema event we have presented in partnership with BBC Worldwide North America, and who wouldn't’t want to watch the historic emergence of Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor on the big screen?”
If you're interested in securing tickets to DOCTOR WHO: TWICE UPON A TIME in theaters, you can begin making your reservations on October 20th, when pre-orders for the screening are made available. You can also visit FathomEvents.com or head to your local theater for details.
Only in the States, huh? My DOCTOR WHO-loving wife is not going to like that one bit. To be honest though, we've got a big ass TV, and Jodie Whittaker's Doctor is going to look amazing on that as well. It's a very exciting time to be a DOCTOR WHO fan, as whether you approve of Whittaker's casting or not, the show is about to make history. My hope is that Moffat's replacement, BROADCHURCH creator Chris Chibnall, is up to the task of taking the show in a bold, new direction – which it desperately needs. In my estimation, the latest season of DOCTOR WHO was a bit of a snoozefest, complete with a bungled ending for one of its most charming companions to date. With any luck, Whittaker's addition coupled with Chibnall's ideas will have fans screaming "Geronimo," at the top of their lungs.
DOCTOR WHO: TWICE UPON A TIME will land in select theaters on December 27th.