Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood has been in something of a limbo since the Children Of Earth miniseries finished. There had been talk for some time about it getting a US make-over, with Russell T Davies transplanted to Los Angeles and working on a version of the show for Fox. But while that effort died on the development vine, American cable channel Starz has stepped in to co-produce a new 10-episode series set to screen here and in the States next summer.
With Davies still involved as show runner, the series will likely feature a boosted budget (while Starz doesn’t exactly have the biggest wallet in US broadcasting, the combined forces of the channel and the BBC should result in something shiny) and feature some new cast members. Which will come in handy, since the last few adventures finished off just about everyone save for John Barrowman’s Captain Jack Harkness and Eve Myles’ Gwen Cooper (and not forgetting Kai Owen’s Rhys).
Plus, given the new backers and the aim to expand the audience across the pond, the show will be likely breaking out of its Cardiff setting for the new series. We’re just guessing here, but given that the Hub was blown to smithereens during Children, they’ll be looking for some new digs.
“Russell, Jane and Julie came to us with a compelling vision for the evolution of the Torchwood saga that really takes the story into whole new areas,” says Starz’ Carmi Zlotnik. “The compelling story and characters this trio created provide a strong template for driving this narrative in exciting ways.”
Now all we have to worry about is Starz asking for lots of sex and swearing, a la their recent Spartacus show. Wouldn’t want Torchwood to get all seedy and silly... again. After the bump in quality for Children Of Earth, here’s hoping it keeps to that quality and doesn’t backslide to the first season’s sniggery shenanigans…