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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