November 23rd, 2024
28 comments
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Second Doctor Adventure ‘The War Games’ Returns in Full Colour
Classic Doctor Who story ‘The War Games’ to be brought to life in stunning new colourisation to air on BBC Four and iPlayer on 23rd December.
It’s time to step into the excitement of The War Games once again, as one of Doctor Who’s most classic tales is to receive a spectacular new colourisation.
Originally aired in 1969, The War Games marked the end of an era for the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton), following him and his companions Zoe and Jamie as they land in a battlefield that appears to be a World War I military zone—but all is not as it seems. They soon discover that soldiers from different historical periods have been abducted and are being manipulated in a cruel game. As they work to uncover the mystery behind the War Lord and his twisted experiments, the Doctor faces one of his most difficult challenges.
For the first time, these original episodes have been meticulously colourised and enhanced with updated visual effects edited into a new, 90-minute feature-length experience to appeal to today’s modern audiences. With updated sound and a new score, this newly updated version of The War Games offers both fans and newcomers even more ways to watch the much-loved classic story.
In addition, the episode will also feature the Second Doctor’s never-before-seen regeneration into the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee), alongside recovered footage not seen since the original broadcast.
Russell T Davies, Showrunner said:
“From the day I arrived back on Doctor Who, this was the plan. To colourise old stories and bring them back to life. And on Doctor Who Day itself, it’s great to announce this, celebrating the show’s wonderful heritage with an all-time-classic. It looks so vivid and new – and for fans of black-and-white, the story in its original form will stay on BBC iPlayer, so everyone wins!
“I actually watched this transmit in 1969, at 6 years old, terrified of the Roman soldiers, fascinated by villains with glinting spectacles, and in awe of the Doctor’s brand new origin. Now fans old and new can enjoy it all over again.”
This special episode is the second time that a classic Doctor Who story has been colourised, following The Daleks in 2023 which was updated to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the franchise.
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RPG74
November 23rd, 2024 - 9:30pmProof positive that the entire IP is in the toilet. If it has any chance of being saved, we need a complete clear out of everyone currently in charge. Night of the Long Knives, people. Figuratively speaking of course.
Tom Williams
November 23rd, 2024 - 9:30pmWell looks like this could be the next steelbook I can’t wait for the artwork too be announced when it’s up for preorder another good one too add too my collection
Andy Dodds
November 23rd, 2024 - 9:10pmWow now I was excited for another 60s Doctor Who in Colour, but I know it’s for a modern audience, so like last year’s The Daleks in Colour that was cut badly into a 75minute the music is terribly loud, but now really this Story is nearly 5hrs long, to be cut into a 90minute colour version. with terrible loud music over a mono story, now I believe for some reason or other that the Original last episode of The War Games was in fact missing and the version we have is the cut censored episode maybe to avoid confusion in other countries, my Grandad when he was alive he noticed that they had in fact cut the regeneration into Pertwee. So just maybe they must have either the Original back uncensored and are now going to include it. So am now thinking were gonna be getting The War Games Special Edition perhaps with now the regeneration. and of course this cut down colour version. I think just colorize the whole t thing or not at all, the money could go on other projects like continuing with the animations of the lost episodes.
Prof Horner
November 23rd, 2024 - 9:39pmThere was no regeneration into Pertwee. Even though I was just over a month short of 6 when the last episode aired.I remember watching the story at the time,I didn’t happen. Are you suggesting that a different version of the last episode that we didn’t know about till now? It doesn’t make sense.
Bob
November 23rd, 2024 - 9:07pmSo 90 minutes is the maximum length for these colourisations? The Daleks in Colour could’ve greatly benefitted from those extra 15 minutes, maybe we’ll get an extended version for The Collection Season 1. No way that’s enough time for The War Games though. I’m sure The Dalek Invasion of Earth could be cut down to 90 minutes without feeling too jarring, The Chase would massively be improved at a 90 minute run time. The Tomb of the Cybermen could probably afford to be edited down to 75 minutes. Considering how long these colourisations take to make, I can’t see them doing that many more unless they expand the team and bring on more colourisation artists.
Xander
November 23rd, 2024 - 8:27pmI Hope There Will Be An Animated Versions Of MARCO POLO, THE DALEK MASTER PLAN, THE SAVAGES, THE SUMGGLERS, THE HIGHLANDERS, THE WHEEL IN SPACE And THE SPACE PIRATES. Also Second Doctor Blu Ray Complete Seasons Someday.
Barney
November 23rd, 2024 - 8:26pmI really enjoy the war games…….but I can not think of a more inappropriate story to get down to 90 mins. Like i know we arnt spoiled for choice when it comes to troughtons to do this with because some many have holes in but still. Like tomb it make sense being only a 4 parter and has the draw of a big monster, but when you think about it if you coloured tomb, it’d still be very grey. Just the setting, quarry planet metal rooms white icy caverns not very wow look at the colours so that rules that out.
If Web 3 existed there’s massive potential there but it doesn’t so let’s move on. Enemy of the world would work and would be a great way to show off pat. It’d belle psyedo Sci fi bond film and very exciting in colour….only posible risk of chopping it down is it get confusing who’s doc and who’s scaramanga so that could be that. Then dominators, it’s not overly exciting it’s not well loved and again very grey fairly obvious why you skip it. For me the obvious choice would be mind Rober. At 5 eps once you pull out episode repreeives and titles you haven’t got to lose too much more to get down to 90, in fact most of ep 1 can go as although I like the creepy white wilderness it doesn’t advance the plot. And it would look glorious in colour it would give that story so much life. For me obvious choice. Krotons, see what I said about the dominators. After that you’ve got seeds of death…..which is another great choice….there’s already an omnibus edit which I think is 100 mims so you havnt got to do too much more trimming. Has a headline monster and I think would be visually exciting the green of the ice warriors should stand out nicely. Still prefer mind rober but I’d have no issue with seeds of death.
But war games? As soon as s you say it can’t be longer than 90 mins it’s out the question without creating some hollow story. It jsut doesn’t have the pace issues. And as for taking up precious seconds with an added regeneration scene….I’m just disappointed that something that could of been really cool is likely gunna suck.
Also for context I liked the dalek one I get the criticism about the overly loud music and agree but on the whole thought it was a good bringing it up to modern audiences
I just don’t see this one working it’s too drastic…and I don’t get it when there were more obvious and easier choices. Unless they want to book end the 60’s earliest available story(since Unearthly child has rights issues) and the last. Poor reason that though
Prof Horner
November 23rd, 2024 - 8:23pmWell I didn’t expect this. Maybe this is the reason season 6 isn’t coming out on blu ray anytime soon. A couple of things. 90 minutes long means over half the story has been cut out. Second a new music score. Dudley Simpsons score is brilliant. The Time Lords are coming at end of episode 9 quite majestic. I quite like the catchy American civil war theme as well. So who thinks there maybe a trailer for season 7 blu ray boxset at the end of it.
Sad to say that this will be far more exciting than this year’s Christmas special.
Tom Williams
November 23rd, 2024 - 9:35pmSeason 7 if it arrives will be mid or end off January like season 15 it will be amazing too see when the announcement happens espically next year following up would be more season 21 too complete Peter/colin bakers ones
ChrisP
November 23rd, 2024 - 7:41pmAs a 50 yo I don’t think I’m the target market.
But I still think it looks fun.
I enjoyed the Daleks in Colour despite the blue Tardis floor (and a couple of other choices that also made me go “aaaaargh”)
Shaun
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:54pmInterested to see it… but goodbye season 6b if this new ‘regeneration’ is supposed to be canon.
Whofan44
November 23rd, 2024 - 7:27pmInterestingly the way Big Finish have done it (like a Clara in Hell Bent thing) there season 6B would still work.
Nb7
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:47pmWhere have all the comments gone?
booboo
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:52pm? Non have gone anywhere
Paddy Troughton
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:47pmAccording to Theconfessiondial on twitter the regeneration incorporates some of his fan edit he made and posted on youtube. It is great if anyone wants to check it out to see how it may look in the colourised edit.
Nb7
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:46pmThis actually looks looks pretty impressive. I get the comments on how much it’s been trimmed but it is a very long story and would no doubt cost a lot more to do the whole thing. As a campanile to that story I think it’s cool. I’ll always go to the original version. As skeptical as I am over this current period of the show with rtd2, this is actually a bit I’m intrested in. If it helps bring a bigger audience to the show and increases the budget for future animations and box sets bring it on!
Sime
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:45pmWas really surprised and pleased about this news when it popped up on my Facebook page. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out. Especially the new regeneration scene!
MJS
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:18pmI’m gonna wait to see it before making judgement. I’m excited for it.
Doctor Stu
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:15pmEdited down to essentially 3 episodes long, new loud music nobody asked for and trimmed, butchered to oblivion with a replaced regeneration. What’s the point. When people said they wish the episodes were in colour they mean they…..wish the episodes were in colour.
dave
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:28pmDOCTOR STFU
Missyrules
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:12pmNot for me. 2.5 hours edited out of the story just makes it rather pointless. Spend the money on other things!
Richard
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:02pmI’m sorry, 90 minutes long? Look, no disrespect to the people involved but that just seems like an act of insanity. I get that it’s an alternative and the original episodes are still available but you can’t cut that much out and still have a comparable story. It just seems like a massive waste of time and effort that could’ve been applied to a shorter story and perhaps even emerge as the definitive way of experiencing it. Also lifting the regeneration from a fan video just cheapens the whole thing, it’s very impressive for a fan project but I don’t think it’s fit for an official production, I wish for this they went with what a regeneration would’ve looked like at the time rather than just pasting over the modern regeneration effect.
Kone112
November 23rd, 2024 - 5:56pmCan’t wait , looks great.
Mac
November 23rd, 2024 - 5:36pmrecovered footage?
Sascha
November 23rd, 2024 - 5:44pmDVD Release?
Mac
November 23rd, 2024 - 5:47pmSid James?
Paddy Troughton
November 23rd, 2024 - 6:07pmThink it’s probably going to adapt footage from the regeneration pertwee made for a fan film I think it was.
Sofia Fox
November 23rd, 2024 - 7:49pmNo they found original film footage and remastered it