For the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, David Tennant returns to the series. He will be the 14th Doctor. How was the regeneration scene filmed and imagined, from Jodie Whittaker to him? A behind-the-scenes video gives some exciting explanations for fans.
While waiting for the broadcast of the three special episodes of the 60th anniversary of the series, the BBC continues to publish, on social networks, various teasers and behind-the-scenes elements. In the latest videothe British channel offers a glimpse of a key moment in Doctor Who : regeneration. “Whovians” are now used to it, every four seasons or so, since, as soon as the Doctor sees his body die, it transforms — the opportunity to welcome a new actor or actress into the role (usually with a new artistic direction).
This process has brought us to some of television’s most iconic moments. David Tennant and the Tenth Doctor’s farewell is certainly one of them. Reason why the latest regeneration was so significant: David Tennant returned to the role of the Doctor – in the 14th incarnation. The video behind the scene from the BBC shows precisely how this moment, broadcast in 2022, was conceived.
A director and a woman director for the same scene
During regeneration, the energy of the Time Lords spreads throughout the character’s body, before it can no longer be contained: when this energy “explodes”, we then see on the screen a morphing, rapid or progressive, between the two actors. How is this phase handled? Do the two actors take turns on the set?
We learn, first of all, that David Tennant himself knew nothing about the reasons for this mysterious regeneration or what justified, narratively, his return to the role. “ I have no idea what’s going on in this scene. All I know is that I’m getting to the end. I wasn’t allowed to see anything else. It’s a mystery to me. »
The sequences of Jodie Whittaker and David Tennant were also filmed separately. “ Jodie transforms into me, but she’s not there. She filmed her part a long time ago. » But the actor and actress still managed to share this moment together… through their smartphone: “ We were texting each other throughout the entire experience. I wanted her to feel like she was sharing this moment. »
The two sequences even have two different directors. Concretely, the episode The Power of the Doctor was filmed on its own, with Jodie Whittaker, under the direction of Jamie Magnus Stone. Then the rushes of the scene were sent to the director of the following episode (the first of three specials in 2023), Rachel Talalay. She was the one who oversaw the part of the regeneration with David Tennant.
For the technical aspect of the morphing, so that everything fits perfectly, the director had a screen where the initial scene with Jodie Whittaker was superimposed on the one being filmed. Then it’s just a matter of ” plane in XYZ to obtain the exact position “.
“What is he doing here?!” »
We also learn, in passing, that the director suggested that David Tennant decide for himself what he would say and do at the end of regeneration. “ Let’s do it exactly like last time. » Which therefore explains the mention of new teeth, as in 2005.
Something new, however: this is the first time that clothing has regenerated during metamorphosis. Usually this concerns only the organic body. As the director explains, this change is entirely voluntary and will therefore have a reason for being, mysterious for the moment: “ They’re going to have complicated and intriguing theories about why you have different clothes », laughs Rachel Talalay, speaking to the actor.
David Tennant explains for his part how the surprise effect was hoped for. It is rare, in fact, that the regeneration itself takes everyone by surprise: the name of the actor or actress is revealed beforehand. But David Tennant’s return, although theorized by fans, had not been announced. Reason why the arrival of Ncuti Gatwa was made so early. “ One of the reasons for announcing Ncuti Gatwa’s name was because people were waiting for his arrival at the end of this scene. It would be great if when the episode aired, a few people jumped and exclaimed ‘What is he doing?! What?!’, that’s our goal “, explains David Tennant.
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