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Media Release: Live from San Diego Comic Convention
2007
Saturday 28 July 2007
Weta Collectibles reveal initial Doctor Who range
This week at the San Diego Comic Convention, Weta Collectibles
revealed the prototypes of the initial two pieces that will
start their Doctor Who statue range.
The first piece, titled 'Dalek',
is from the Doctor Who episode of the same name, featured
in the New series in 2005. This is from the ninth Doctor
Who series, starring Christopher Eccleston.
Beneath the Salt Plains of Utah, the billionaire collector
Henry Van Statten holds the last relic of an alien race.
When the Doctor and Rose investigate, they discover that
the Doctor's oldest and most deadly enemy is about to break
free. It's a fight to the death, with Rose caught in the
middle.
In this episode, Rose Tyler, the Doctor's companion, touches
the Dalek and it is rebooted and given slight human traits.
The Dalek decides to kill itself because of these elements,
but before doing so, opens its casing so it can experience
the sunlight that was so alien to it. The Weta Collectible
captures this moment before its self destruction.
Christopher Eccleston featured in the drama in 2005, playing
the clever, crew-cut, leather-clad Doctor (13 episodes).
The second piece, titled 'Cybercontroller',
is from the 'Age of Steel' episode from the tenth series
(New series 2006, Part 2 of a two-part story), starring
David Tennant as the Doctor. The Collectible showed at Comic
Con is a greyscale prototype of the final product.
The Cybermen take control of London and start converting
the populace. While Jackie falls under Lumic's control,
the Doctor, Rose and Mickey are reduced to fugitives in
a world of terror. A last, desperate attack on the Cyberfactory
is their only chance - but will they all survive?
David Tennant is the current Doctor in the drama, having
held the role since 2005. His character is quirky, sexy
and stylish. The Doctor has crippled the Cybermen. In this
piece, their leader, the Cybercontroller, rips the cables
out of itself to chase and capture the Doctor.
The third piece is 'The Master and Auton', from the third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee, and taken from the episode titled 'Terror of the Auton's', as seen in the Classic series 8, in 1971. It is in this episode the Doctor is warned the Master has arrived on Earth. This is the first time we see the Master (played by Roger Delgado). This piece depicts the master in his classic suit pose with the TCE - Tissue Compression Eliminator, and a defeated Auton from the end of the story. Jon Pertwee starred in the Drama from 1970-74. Jon is fondly remembered as the dashing Doctor who was confined to Earth as a scientific adviser and owned an antique car, Bessie. (24 stories, 127 episodes)
The 4th piece is the Doctor and Davros from the episode titled 'Genesis of the Dalek's', from the fourth Doctor Who series, starring Tom Baker, Classic Series 12, 1945 - 1975. In this episode, the Doctor and his companions are transported to the planet Skaro to prevent the creation of the Daleks. In the Weta Collectible piece, the creator of the Daleks faces a struggle between the Doctor and death. The Doctor has threatened to switch off his life support, unless Davros orders the mutants destruction. Davros' expression is one of determination, even though he is near certain death. The Doctor has an angry grimace on his face, one also of determination. Tom Baker played the Doctor in the series from 1974 - 1981. He is well known as the bohemian with wild curly hair, who donned a long multi-coloured scarf, felt hat and had a never-ending supply of Jelly Babies. (42 stories, 170 episodes).
Announcements, including pricing and release dates, will
be revealed at a later date.
Press Release
Thursday 19 July 2007
Weta Limited release Doctor Who Collectibles
Today Weta Limited announced they will be creating, in
collaboration with BBC Worldwide, a line of Collectible
statues based on the popular television series, Doctor Who.
Doctor Who is produced by the BBC and is the longest-running
science fiction television series in the world. It follows
the adventures of a time-traveller called 'the Doctor',
who travels time in a phone box, solving problems and righting
wrongs.
The Weta Collectibles line will incorporate key moments
from Doctor Who. The initial series will consist of four
pieces, all of which capture a nostalgic scene from the
series. Each piece will be made at 6th scale and made out
of high quality polystone. Weta Sculptors Ben Hawker, Dan
Cockersell, Eden Small and Gary Hunt created the pieces
in collaboration with Weta Model Maker David Tremont.
Selected pieces will be on display for the first time ever
at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con from 25 - 29 July, meaning
that Comic Con attendees will be the first to view the range.
The Weta Limited stand is number 2615. The official images
of the pieces will be revealed the following day, on 26
July.
The first episode of Doctor Who launched on BBC Television
on 23 November 1963. There have been more than 600 episodes,
150 stories and two television movies. The show has become
a television favourite for fans worldwide and has influenced
generations, including David himself. He says he has been
a fan of the series since a child, and when the opportunity
came up to create Weta Collectibles based on the series
he couldn't believe his luck. "I started watching the
series when it first aired back in the sixties", he
says. "It was inspiring to watch. The images scared
the heck out of me as a child, but at the same time they
were so fascinating, too. I really learned the meaning of
'watching from behind the couch.' In fact, it was the Doctor
Who series amongst others that inspired me to get into model
making in the first place."
David says the series set the benchmark for television
drama. "Doctor Who pushed the boundaries with their
imagination, it was so very different from anything else
I had ever seen", he says. "It's a very unique,
very exciting story. I mean, who else could have thought
of travelling time in a phone box!?"
Weta Limited Manager Jamie Wilson said the opportunity
to work on Doctor Who merchandise is exciting for all involved.
"Doctor Who is such an iconic series, with a huge following
all over the world", says Jamie. "We have chosen
memorable moments from the series that capture the power,
emotion and transformed them into dynamic collectible pieces.
We hope the fans will enjoy these collectibles as much as
we have had making them."
Pricing, purchasing dates and edition size announcements
will be made at a later date.
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