After three months of making rabid fans anxiously wait (and search for illegal copies online), the “Doctor Who” franchise finally revealed the highly anticipated trailer for the 50th anniversary episode set to air Nov. 23.
This news is not only for Whovians, however. The Golden Anniversary airing is historic, marking the first time that a television episode will be simulcast around the world. For example, while New Yorkers are watching it at 2 p.m., Londoners will need to tune in at 7 p.m., and Australians will have to wake up at 5 a.m. (the following day) to watch the footage. Cinemas worldwide will be setting up big-screen viewings in certain cities.
The “Doctor Who” 50th anniversary trailer originally debuted during San Diego’s Comic Con in July. Rumors emerged that the viewers were sworn to secrecy after watching the trailer during a limited screening; they were allegedly threatened with “Doctor Who” withholding special footage in the future if Comic Con audience members pirated the material. Miraculously, it worked. Attendees kept a tight lid on the trailer, and it’s only made Internet rounds beginning Oct. 19 when it was officially released.
The minute-length trailer, shown above, features a voiceover by the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith, who will be departing the series after this season, to be replaced by 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi. It begins: “I’ve been running all my lives, through time and space, every second of every minute of every day for over 900 years.”
As he continues his narration, illustrations of all prior Doctors (and certain favored Companions, including the current and continuing Clara Oswald, played by Jenna Coleman) are shown embattled, mid-adventure.
“Our future depends on one single moment of one impossible day, the day I’ve been running from all my life,” the narration states. “The Day of the Doctor.”
Watch the full “Doctor Who” 50th anniversary trailer above and share your thoughts below.
