Torchwood: The New World

Showrunner Russell T. Davies and executive-producer Julie Gardner have been pimping Torchwood: The New World (the confirmed title of the fourth season) at the Television Critics' Association. Here's what they confirmed during the Q&A:

• When season 4 begins "Torchwood" will be considered a myth, "only spoken about in whispers".
• The new American character Rex Matheson, a CIA Agent, will be the audience's guide into the world.
• Productions begins January 2011, for a summer 2011 launch.
• Gwen's husband Rhys (who is now very much part of the team) and her baby will be involved.
• Filming will take place in Wales and Los Angeles.
• The 10-part storyline has already been arced, with a beginning, middle and end (with no "flabby episodes"). There are no plans to continue any storylines from previous years, or from here into a possible fifth season.
• The story has a "global sweep" that's "like the Bourne films" with a ticking clock element.
• There are no plans for the return of James Marsters as Captain John.
• It's likely the gap between US and UK broadcast will be shorter than "Children Of Earth".

So what do you make of all that? Sounding good? Any worries? I personally think the success of "Children Of Earth" has perhaps left too much of an imprint on the creative direction now. I think COE worked because it was a brief, week-long hit of serialized adult sci-fi. It only demanded a five-day commitment from audiences, at a time when there wasn't much else on.Would COE have worked as well over five weeks? "New World" is going to tell one story over twice that length. Let's hope it's a very good story, or they'll be in trouble by episode 4. Also, considering the majority of Torchwood's output has been standalone sci-fi stories (which gave it variety and allowed them to stretch different muscles every episode), is it wise to essentially focus on the thriller aspect? I hope we get 24-meets-Torchwood, which seems to be the intention, but will that come at the expense of certain flavours people enjoyed about season 1 and 2?

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