Yes, it’s been done before. Back in the mid-nineties, Hollywood along with the BBC tried to produce an Americanized version of “Doctor Who.” What we got was the eighth Doctor, Paul McGann. While it did very well over in the UK, it totally failed over here in the States. Why? Many have speculated bur most seem to agree: unfamiliarity with the brand name. With the resurrected BBC version of the show a big hit on the US’s SciFi (not yet the lame Syfy), producers Malcolm Blair and Jason Allen aim to create an American Doctor Who.

In an interview, Blaire states that they are going to be keeping in the spirit of the BBC show, but revamping the mythology for the twenty-first century. “Kind of like what Marvel Comics did with their Ultimate line. This is going to be Ultimate Doctor Who,” Blair said. “He’s still a Time Lord from Gallifrey who travels in a police box. He’ll still battle daleks, cybermen and a host of classic villains,” Allen states, “We’re just changing it up a bit.”

As Blair and Allen continue they let us know what they have planned for the Doctor. “The story starts off with the Doctor hiding out in a junkyard in 1960’s London. He’s being chased by an unknown entity and there is a battle. During the fight the Doctor’s TARDIS is damaged which means it will always remain a police box,” Allen says. “He escapes and when he re-materializes he hides a carefully wrapped up package outside of the TARDIS and dematerializes.”

“The package is found and it turns out to be a baby,” Blair picks up the story. “The baby is a little girl who is found to age at an exceptionally slow rate. They name her Susan and she is raised by UNIT. Her guardian is a UNIT soldier by the name of Gordon Stewart. The Doctor returns many years later to reclaim Susan and tell her of her birthright when they are attacked by the Entity. The three of them escape into the TARDIS and thus begins their adventures through time and space.

While still in the early planning stages it’s too soon to ask about the cast. “We would really love though to have Jack Davenport as Stewart,” Allen says. “One, he could pass as a young Nicholas Courtney,” (who played Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart). “And two,” Allen continues, “He’s worked with Steven Moffat who is the new showrunner for the BBC version of Doctor Who.”

Asked about the classic villains you could tell they weren’t ready to give up the goods just yet. “We’ll have daleks. You can’t have Who without daleks,” Blair says. “But,” Allen continues, “They are not just going to be hovering pepperpots. Their armor will have the ability to transform into humanoid form which will stand about ten feet tall.” When asked further they both hold up their hands saying, “No, no, we’ve told you far too much already.”

Well, we still have some time left before we get to see the “New Who.” If the pilot is picked up expect to see the show for the 2010-2011 television season. Click the video link below to see the interview…

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