Planet of the Dead (TV story)

Planet of the Dead is the confirmed title of the first of the 2009 specials, due to air at Easter 2009 (exact broadcast date has yet to be announced by the BBC, although some media have suggested 11 April as the broadcast date). It will star David Tennant and feature two new characters, Christina and Malcolm, along with UNIT. Production of the special began on 19th January 2009.

Synopsis
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Plot
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Cast

 * The Doctor - David Tennant
 * Lady Christina de Souza - Michelle Ryan
 * Malcolm - Lee Evans
 * Captain Erisa Magambo - Norma Dumezweni

Production crew
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Story notes

 * The title of the episode was unveiled during the closing credits of The Next Doctor broadcast on 25 December 2008, several weeks before production of the episode was due to begin.
 * This is the first Doctor Who episode in which series producer Russell T. Davies shares co-writing credit, and the first episode since the show's return in 2005 to credit two writers. The last televised story to credit two writers was the 1993 mini-episode Dimensions in Time.
 * Davies stated in the commentary for The Next Doctor that it will feature UNIT, as well as two new characters named Christina and Malcolm.
 * In his column for Doctor Who Magazine, Davies wrote that the special will feature two new races never before seen. Davies also characterises Planet of the Dead as an "antidote" to the continuity-heavy Journey's End and The Next Doctor, which means old monsters appearing is unlikely.
 * The casting of Michelle Ryan has been reported both by media and via on-set confirmation. Ryan, best known for her work on the UK soap opera EastEnders and the American science fiction series Bionic Woman, had previously co-starred in the Steven Moffat-written miniseries Jekyll and was also reportedly a candidate for new companion after the departure of Billie Piper in 2006.
 * Evan's stated the character he would be playing, Malcolm, was a professor.
 * After initial rumours, it was confirmed that part of the episode will be filmed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates through BBC News coverage that a bus that was to be used for filming there was heavily damaged upon arrival there.
 * According to the BBC report, the damage to the bus -- a twin to one being used for filming in Cardiff -- prompted a rewrite of part of the script.
 * Discounting second unit filming conducted in New York City for Daleks in Manhattan, this marks the first time an installment of Doctor Who has been filmed outside Europe since the 1996 telefilm was shot in Canada, and only the second time ever for a regular televised episode.
 * On 16 January 2009 The Guardian newspaper published an online column condemning the then-rumoured plan to film in Dubai, citing the UAE's human rights record. Similar criticism was posted by the fan site Kasterborous on 28 January.
 * As seen in David Tennant's video diary for this episode's readthrough, Tennant feared that, having spent six months portraying Hamlet for the RSC, that he would be unable to accurately replicate the voice he uses when portraying The Doctor. In an informal discussion with Julie Gardner, he describes his voice for Hamlet as being the same as The Doctor's (being an English accent) except "more posh" and mentioned he may have to watch his previous performances as The Doctor and practise the voice. This strongly echoes Billie Piper's dilemma when she returned to film Turn Left; in interviews with Doctor Who Confidential, Piper confessed to having forgotten how to speak in Rose's accent; it was later noted that she spoke with a noticeable lisp in several scenes of that episode.
 * It has been confirmed by the BBC that Planet of the Dead will be the first Doctor Who story to be produced in high-definition; this changeover can be likened to the move from black and white to colour production in 1970.

Rumours
SECURITY CHIEF (CONT'D)
 * Martha Jones may appear in the special. Martha wont be returning since Freema Agyeman has signed onto star in Law and Order: London, however in January 2009 the tabloid The Sun reported that Agyeman would return as Jones in one of the later specials; this has yet to be confirmed by the BBC.
 * The inclusion of Captain Arisa Magambo strongly implies that at least part of this episode will be set on contemporary Earth.
 * Lady Christina's appearance in this story will lead to a "shocking event" in the Doctor's life, this could mean that someone important from his past maybe returning.
 * It is rumoured that at least one of the "two new species" will be found in a desert.
 * On The Tennant Tapes on the official website, you can pause and see a small portion of a distorted script for POTD, here is the extract:

And, activating - He throws a big lever on the wall. FX: There are four free standing poles in a square around the plinth, and from them A FENCE OF BLUE LASER BEAMS activates. Low hum of power. the square of guards are standing outside the fence, all facing out.

SECURITY CHIEF (CON'T)

Night then, boys.

He leaves. Footsteps echoing. the door shuts, SLAM!

PAN up the room, from the PLINTH & FX BEAMS, to...

The rest has been distorted, possibly on purpose.

Ratings
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Filming Locations

 * Cardiff (UNIT)
 * Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
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Continuity
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DVD and Other releases
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