As fans of any sci fi programme,
we can imagine ourselves in a situation where we might need the help of
Torchwood, the Doctor, or a super hero to save the day, and protect planet
Earth. As fans, many of us write fan fiction, extending the Whoniverse with non
canon characters, because we can. We’ve shipped characters, we’ve brought back
the dead, with alternate universes, so we can bring back Ianto, Tosh and Owen.
But what about an
alternate universe where another Torchwood exists, but not with the characters
you knew, but with a whole new cast? Catching up with actor Chris Wilson
recently, who told me of a new series he was involved in, called Torchwood 2000. Chris put me in touch with screenwriter Callum Trevitt, followed
by a trailer for the series, and it was inevitable really, that I’d want to
find out more.
I caught up with Callum,
recently, who has put together four episodes of Torchwood 2000 with a completely new
cast and the trailer is absolutely awesome. There are a few taster trailers on Youtube, but this is ultimately the best one to watch, in my opinion.
How did the idea come
about for Torchwood 2000? Are you cosplayers, or fiction writers going beyond
the keyboard and into visual dramas?
Callum: Reuben initially came up with a pilot
for Torchwood 2000 on his personal YouTube when he was 15, which came about
from an obsession with the Whoniverse. I approached Reuben in early 2019 with
the idea of rejuvenating that base idea, and turning it into a parallel world
web series. The Torchwood team are outsiders who like to challenge authority
and make a positive difference - which are exactly the sort of traits we both
relate to.
Tell me about the Torchwood
team - who are they? Are they in your screenshots? Are they like the original
team format?
Callum: The Torchwood 2000 team begins with
Jaxus - the head honcho. He’s an absolutely barking mad, insane lunatic joined
by computer nerd Gita, loose cannon Goddrick and his best friend Angel. Though,
none of them have any recollection of their pasts, or why they’re part of this
post-apocalyptic cut-back Torchwood team. It’s as if their entire backstories
have been retconned. Though, this all serves the story-arc, and when you
eventually learn of their pasts - you’ll certainly be sitting upright. The
format follows a similar team dynamic, but we’ve cartoonized our characters a
little more at the start, to really emphasise the dark moments later on. I
think we’ve definitely succeeded at getting that right.
How many years in the
making was this series for you and the team?
Callum: We started on an original spin-off idea
in 2017, with a story based around a companion of a time traveller (The Doctor)
that had been left-behind in the far future… But, with a few failed attempts at
pitching it to our crew to get momentum going, we decided to go with the
Torchwood format - which has proved massively worth it.
When do you go to
launch the latest episode?
Callum: It’s hard to say for sure - we haven’t
given ourselves a specific deadline purely to ensure the quality is the best it
can possibly be. We anticipate episode 1 going out in the Summer, with episode
4 (the finale) going out by the end of the year (it’s an absolute cracker, and
worth the wait!).
Obviously because Who
and TW belong to the BBC did you have issues regarding using the music and some
of the characters within it, plus the use of the name Torchwood and Captain
Jack Harkness?
Callum: We’ve got a fantastic composer working
on brilliant original music for us - Devon S. Robb - a musical mastermind. He’s
really thrown himself into the project and has become a key core player here at
Fortuna Vega Studios. Under the fair use act, we’re able to use the name
Torchwood and Captain Jack Harkness providing personal financial gain doesn’t
come as a result of the production, which it is not.
What can we expect from
the storylines?
Callum: As a screenwriter with an eye for
detail, multiple narratives and character, I’m most proud of the pacing in the
scripts - you never stay in the same place for too long. As showrunner, I’ve
ensured that there’s a well-rounded story-arc with consistent writing and
direction… and a few Whovian surprises thrown in. I’ve got a great team of
talented writers working on episodes 2 and 3, including Oscar Wenman-Hyde,
J’Quan Wallace and Reuben Roper. They are ace!
In episode 1, watch out
for a team changing revelation… In episode 2, watch out for a gigantic drug
lord carnivorous plant. In episode 3, watch out for ‘The Commitment’ and their
cult as they attempt to call God. In episode 4, watch out for the Prime
Minister’s television broadcast… you can’t miss it.
Will fans of Russell T
Davies’ Torchwood and Doctor Who enjoy this series?
Callum: Absolutely - we’ve got Whovian
surprises, a sassy mother not too dissimilar from Jackie Tyler, gritty and very
real character struggles, and utterly brilliant (and unexpected) villains. The
cinematography and visuals is another high point for us, and I think the
importance of where and how it’s filmed shines particularly in our favour.
You’ll enjoy it.
Thank you so much for the
Interview Callum.
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