We’ve got a first look at the recreation of the lost Doctor Who story, Shada, with a trailer released this week. As many people know, Shada is a story that was partially filmed, but then, because of a strike in London, it was never finished.
Now, more than thirty years later, after many attempts at recreations, the episode will be released. Attempts before included mostly Doctor Who radio stories, one voiced by Paul McGann instead of Tom Baker, a novelization written by Gareth Roberts, and even at one point a narration with the help of Tom Baker.
However, nothing compares to new look we’ve got below. The cast was brought back for voicing of the script, specifically Lalla Ward and Tom Baker. They’ve recorded the missing lines to go with the animation that will go where scenes are missing. Basically, it is a brilliant fan mix, only with a much higher budget that the BBC had.
For those who don’t know, the series Shada was written by Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams. Here’s a small synopsis of the episode thanks to the Tardis Wikia for the episode.
"The story revolves around the lost planet Shada, on which the Time Lords built a prison for defeated would-be conquerors of the universe. Skagra, one such inmate, needs the help of one of the prison’s inmates. Nobody knows where Shada is except one Time Lord who retired to Earth. Now he’s is a professor at St. Cedd’s College, Cambridge. Luckily for the universe, Skagra’s attempt to force the information out of Professor Chronotis is interrupted by a visit of the Fourth Doctor."
Even though the idea of bringing Shada back has received some critiques from fans, I’m so excited to see the two actors back in action. Even though they might sound slightly older (only 30 years or so!), this brings out a whole new possibility for Classic Who. This will get attention from new and old audiences, and who knows what could be next.