Torchwood Season 3 Coming in 2009
Saturday August 9, 2008
Gareth David-Lloyd, John Barrowman, guest star Freema Agyeman, and Eve Myles during the second season of Torchwood.
© BBC
"We've decided to do a five-part mini-series, one big story that will run during one week," Torchwood executive producer Julie Gardner told TV Guide in June. "I wanted to make a really big noise about the show."
At Comic-Con in San Diego, it was officially announced that Torchwood season 3 will air on BBC America shortly after originally airing on BBC1 in the U.K. The five-episode mini-series may air in Britain as a week-long event, but BBC America is less likely to do so here. The first two seasons were both 13 episodes.
The only casting we can be sure of is John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper). Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones), featured alongside Myles in the Doctor Who finale two-parter "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End", is to return, but may be marginalized if the show is streamlined and, if rumor holds true, the show's racier content is reduced in deference to younger fans.
The denouement of "Journey's End," which saw Jack walking off with Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) seemingly trying to woo her away from UNIT, with Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke) catching up to both of them after having expressed a need to carve out a new future for himself, was also very suggestive to those wondering about who would be in Torchwood's third season. Some rumors have stated that Agyeman will definitely be a regular for season 3, and I think it's likely to turn out to be true. (Rumors also suggest Barrowman will be reducing his involvement, with the show's focus presumably shifting to Gwen and Martha.)
(Update: as noted by a commenter below, The Sun has reported that the BBC dropped Agyeman from Torchwood season 3 after she signed on to do the ITV version of Law & Order. As The Sun's record of accuracy regarding dramatic TV show casting is quite spotty, we'll need more info, especially as no announcements regarding casting have been made for the ITV show; but word is spreading that both Agyeman and Battlestar Galactica's Jamie Bamber will be in Law & Order: London.)
On the other hand, nothing about cast changes has been announced or confirmed, and the Doctor Who/Torchwood creators are more than capable of teasing us. A Torchwood line-up of Barrowman, Myles, Agyeman, Clarke, and David-Lloyd would certainly be interesting – not to mention oversaturated with Who alumni.
Burn Gorman (Dr. Owen Harper) and Naoko Mori (Toshiko Sato) both had their characters killed off in the Torchwood season 2 finale.
BBC Worldwide America programming chief Richard De Croce said that Torchwood's return was very good news for BBC America, not just because of the ratings – it's also a great fit. "Torchwood really represents the essence of the channel – it's sexy, action-packed, and a little bit subversive," he said.
Torchwood season 3 will have a new producer, Peter Bennett, who has previously worked on Torchwood, Doctor Who, and such films as The Mummy, A View to a Kill, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Who veteran Euros Lyn will direct the mini-series.
Comments
Actually, it was confirmed by Julie Gardner, in an interview done at ComicCon, that Jack and Ianto will remain a couple in Series 3. Since it will be airing post-watershed, it’s likely the level of raciness won’t significantly change, (but I think the fans were hoping for even more.) As for Martha…Freema Agyeman has signed with a competing network, ITV, to do Law and Order, so rumor has it that the BBC was unhappy and Russell had to rush to write her out of Series 3. (Speculation is that’s why he didn’t make it to ComicCon as previously scheduled…rewrites.)
Personally, I’d be very happy if they didn’t add any more principle characters. Between Jack, Ianto, and Gwen there are plenty of possible stories to tell for a season that’s only having a five episode run.
“so rumor has it that the BBC was unhappy and Russell had to rush to write her out of Series 3. (Speculation is that’s why he didn’t make it to ComicCon as previously scheduled…rewrites.)”
pfft rumours. Anyone can make up a rumour.
“Personally, I’d be very happy if they didn’t add any more principle characters. Between Jack, Ianto, and Gwen there are plenty of possible stories to tell for a season that’s only having a five episode run.”
You also have to take into account that Torchwood will likely be needing characters for a 4th series if they can get one.
Well there’s only going to be 5 eps, she could potentially do both… Sour grapes is a poor reason to completely muck up a show’s entire season.
I don’t suppose we’ll get to see Law & Order London in the States, that would be great.
I do not believe this
I think they should have way more than 5 esp! I’m Torchwood’s and Doctor Who’s #1 fan and I miss the show! I think Noel Clarke and Freema should be on the show 4 sure! John Barrowman should pretty much stay the main character!
Several things are wrong there.
1. Speculation that Captain Jack will be standing back is an extremely old rumour and has since been dispproved by the comic con panel.
2. Speculation that the show will be streamed and censored for a younger audience is also an extremely old rumour and was dispproved by both Julie Gardner and John Barrowman saying it will be bigger and more intense than the previous two seasons, said at comic con.
3. Gareth David-Llyod will stay very much a main character as they’re hoping to develope Ianto’s past AND the relationship Ianto and Jack are currently harbouring, once again, said at comic con by Julie Gardner and GDL himself.
I find it extremely dumb to say that they will pull any of the three remaining team members out of the spotlight - they simply wouldn’t do it after that finale. They left fans wanting to see how the three of them coped and wouldn’t be stupid enough to lose any of them.
Plus (final thing) Torchwood was created as a platform for Captain Jack Harkness to do his thing and be the hero - why would they even think of continuing it without himin the foreground?
I’d urge people not to fuel stupid rumours in this.
The only certified things so far are that:
1.It’s going to be 5 episodes long
2. It’s going to be a continuous storlyine spanning the 5 episodes.
Personally, as much as I’d like to see Mickey in the show, it’s huighly unlikely due to Noel Clarke’s rapidly heightening career in cinema and production.
(I would be happy for it to be all about Ianto and Jack for the rest of it’s lifetime…)
More recent information about season 3 is here, including Barrowman’s personal debunking of some of these rumors.
cant belive theres only going to be 5 episodes what a downer was hop[ing for better
i think the torchwood writers are stupid because no one is gonna watch it any more i have ask most the people in my area and most of them said that since killing of owen and tos no-one is planing to watch it. i can agree it was a fab ending but killing off two charaters is just plan wrong and i think killing of two of the main charaters is just awfull…..so get back owen!!! come on but torchwood back up at the top
r u kidding! everyone in the world should watch torchwood! ill never stop watching it! john barrowman is the main reason i watch the show (kinda) and as long as hes still on im good!
Mark, I think you should mention “warning spoiler alerts” at the top of your posts.
Oh; potentially no Clarke?
How sad. Was really looking forward to Micky on Torchwood.
But I guess as long as there’s more on the Weevils, I’m good.
Would love it if they extended the 5 episodes and have a “second half” to the season. Then they could have guest appearances for Martha, Mickey, Owen, or/and especially Tosh (my favorite). Here’s hoping for some great surprises from the Torchwood production team.
Torchwood will not be the same without Dr. Owen Harper. He started out in season one by irritating the shit out of me, but as time progressed, he became my favorite character. It really pissed me off to see them kill him off. The season 2 finalé was very difficult to watch and very emotional. I shall miss the character of Dr. Owen Harper. Even Tosh’s elimination was unnecessary. I also found Ianto to be irritating at first, but after seeing hie emotions over the finality of Lisa, his character started to expand and grow. I very much enjoyed his development in season 2. I look very much forward to season 3, but it just won’t be the same.
i think when it said jacks reducing his involvement i think he might swan off again like in the end of series 1 and then leave gwen incharge that happend the first time he left shes like the co-leader
you bastards
I wouldn’t brag about Peter Bennett’s movie credits… A View to a Kill is about the worst Bond movie ever made, and Temple of Doom (cough), can’t even say it without gagging.
FYI… Torchwood will flop as soon as Barrowman is written out.
5 episodes of Torchwood and only the Doctor Who specials!!! What a sad year for us fans!!
I dont know about everyone else, but I LOVE the torchwood series…. Between Doctor who and this, I make sure Im home to watch…
Also, there would be no torchwood without John Barrowman…
Lastly, if the ratings were so high, why are they trying to get rid of the show?????
I think Torchwood is one of the best scifi shows ever done. We need more than 5 episodes. Don’t get rid of Jack or Gwen. Martha can go. I miss Owen. Not sure Tosh ever developed into an interesting character. More monsters and rifts. Love it.
“i think the torchwood writers are stupid because no one is gonna watch it any more i have ask most the people in my area and most of them said that since killing of owen and tos no-one is planing to watch it. i can agree it was a fab ending but killing off two charaters is just plan wrong and i think killing of two of the main charaters is just awfull…..so get back owen!!!”
Far from stupid, it’s important to show these characters aren’t all invincible (Jack aside of course), that they are human and they can die. It’s the same with any show of this kind, killing off the odd main character from time to time (CSI, Spooks, Dr Who, Torchwood…all that kind of thing sci-fi and otherwise).
It is kind of a downer that S3 is only going to be 5 episodes long, especially after the last few eps of S2…but I guess they know what they’re doing. I’ll look forward to it either way.
I think doing a 5 episode season is a great idea but over a one week period?! when are people going to have time to watch this like many other students i cant afford the capabilities of even a video recorder, i just pray that i have enough time to watch them all on BBC i player!!
any ideas as to the air dates?
plus the 5 episodes is going to leave people clinging to the edges of their seats until the next season!
really looking forward to seeing the lovely jack back on our screens and also the adventures he brings!
gotta love torchwood