NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF DOCTOR WHO
IN PRODUCTION
Following the successful resolution of strikes in Hollywood, many of our favourite genre productions have resumed filming. The fifth and final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things got underway in early January, while Section 31, Michelle Yeoh’s Star Trek event movie for Paramount+, kicked off at the end of the month. Meanwhile, work on season two of The Sandman continues for Netflix. All three productions released first-look images to mark the occasion.
FLYING HIGH
Are you really a blockbuster until you’ve been made out of building blocks? Fortunately the Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter premium Lego set (available now, £149.99) arrives just in time for the second instalment. The detailed 1,369-piece model comes with eight minifigures, including an inspired Baron Harkonnen. The wings extend and flap, while feet can be deployed for landing – should you want to risk those pesky sandworms…
WORLD BUILDING
Universal Orlando has unveiled plans for its new theme park, Epic Universe, opening in 2025. Comprising five different lands, it will include Super Nintendo World, How To Train Your Dragon: Isle Of Berk, The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter: Ministry Of Magic and Dark Universe, the new home of Universal Monsters. Work also continues on a permanent Universal scare attraction in Las Vegas, Horror Unleashed.
♦ Final 28-day figures for the 60th anniversary specials saw viewing numbers at 8.36M for “The Star Beast”, 8.30M for “Wild Blue Yonder” and 7.91M for “The Giggle”, ranking 10th, 4th and 6th for each week respectively. Final figures for “The Church On Ruby Road” were not available at time of going to press.
♦ Filming for series two – due to air in 2025 – recently took place at Penarth’s Pier Pavilion and the OK Diner in Leominster, Herefordshire, with Ncuti Gatwa and Andor actress Varada S
