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 is scheduled to begin in January 2009.

Synopsis
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Plot
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Cast

 * The Doctor - David Tennant
 * Malcolm - TBA
 * Christina - TBA

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.

Ratings
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Rumours

 * The Doctor is rumored to be left without the TARDIS in this story.
 * The Nimon may also return as hinted by Russell T Davies in the 22nd Window of the Doctor Who Advent Calendar.
 * Russell T Davies stated in the commentary for The Next Doctor that it will feature UNIT, as well as two new characters named Christina and Malcolm.
 * The Zarbi are also rumored to return as they were hinted in the 22nd window of the Doctor Who advent calender and RTD mentioned wanting to name an episode "Planet of the Zarbi".
 * The titular planet of the episode is rumored to be Gallifrey, suggesting that Russell T Davies' closing tenure means that these specials will see a close, or at least an explanation to the heavily hinted at Time War across the previous four series. Some have speculated that the Easter setting makes for a story of resurrection.
 * On 3rd January 2009, on Doctor Who Confidential (BBC 1, 5:35pm), it was announced that Matt Smith will take over from David Tennant and become the Eleventh Doctor in Spring 2010. Therefore, there will be no regeneration in this episode, although there may be a build up to the Tenth Doctor's final episodes.
 * As UNIT are being featured, this opens the possibility of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart appearing along with Captain Yates,Sergeant Benton. Also Colonel Mace, Captain Price and Martha Jones could return as well. Due to the fact that this could possibly be set in the future, the return of the Brigadier, Captain Yates, Sergeant Benton, Doctor Jones etc. may not happen. Also, if this is set in the present, it is most likely that Martha will be removing the Osterhagen Key or on her honeymoon.
 * In December 2008, David Tennant was forced to drop out of his production of Hamlet due to what the BBC described as a long-standing back injury; this ultimately required him to undergo surgery before Christmas. With production of Planet of the Dead and the other specials scheduled to begin in January 2009, this has led to concern as to whether Tennant's condition could affect filming. In early January 2009, Tennant returned to Hamlet with the RSC announcing his condition would be monitored on a day-to-day basis; it remains to be seen if there will be any impact on Planet of the Dead.
 * At the end of this episode the title and date of the next episode will be revealed, or a teaser will be shown.
 * In a leaked script the Doctor is travelling to a future city on mars but when he arrives he find that the city is destroyed, he then travels back to earth but the script ends here...thus explaining the episode's title: The Planet of the Dead.
 * It is been rumoured that this story will be set in the 22nd Century.
 * In the Horns of Nimon, the Fourth Doctor hints that he trapped the Nimon in the Void (diverting the space time tunnel) or (as he put it) the middle of nowhere.
 * The Zarbi, in their first appearence (The Web Planet) were lesser beings: easily controlled by a higher power (much like the Ood). It is therefore questioned whether the Nimon see the Planet of the Zarbi as an easy power source (of course considering that there is a Planet of the Zarbi...).

Filming Locations

 * Tunisia/Dubai (rumoured)
 * Cardiff (UNIT)

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
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Continuity
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DVD and Other releases
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