BFI Screening

The BFI Southbank will be screening the first two episodes of Wizards Vs Aliens at 6.15pm on Oct 5 with a Q&A with cast and crew to follow (names TBC). Tickets go on sale to the public on Aug 21 at 11.30am - buy them HERE. We'll be at the event and will have all the news and a review shortly after.

Casting news

This week Twitter has revealed that actresses Gwendoline Christie (above left) and Ruthie Henshall (right) have been filming on Wizards Vs Aliens. The pair are working on the same story which includes the use of prosthetics on some of the cast. Christie is known for her role as Brienne of Tarth in the television series Game of Thrones whilst Henshall starred in the BBC series The Case (2011) and was a judge on ITV1's Dancing On Ice but the actress is best celebrated for roles on stage on Broadway and London in shows such as Chicago and Oliver!.

First picture!

Courtesy of BBC Pictures

The BBC have issued the first promotional picture from Wizards Vs Aliens - click on the image above for a bigger version. Included are actors SCOTT HARAN, playing Tom Clarke, and PERCELLE ASCOTT, Benny Sherwood. From the BBC Press Release:

Filming is now underway on CBBC’s thrilling new action adventure drama, created by Russell T Davies and Phil Ford. Wizards Vs Aliens, produced by BBC Cymru Wales in association with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), will air on CBBC this Autumn. Filming has begun at the BBC’s Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff and on location around the area.

Starring Scott Haran as Tom Clarke and Percelle Ascott as Benny Sherwood, the series also features Annette Badland (Doctor Who episodes Aliens of London, WWIII and Boom Town), Michael Higgs (Eastenders), Jefferson Hall (Doctors) and Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones). Don Gilet (Doctor Who, The Runaway Bride) and Nina Sosanya (Doctor Who, Fear Her) make guest appearances as Benny’s parents.

Wizards Vs Aliens brings magic and sci-fi together to tell an epic tale. Aliens are intent of devouring all the magic on Earth - one 16-year-old boy stands in their way. Tom Clarke is a seemingly ordinary boy who loves football. He lives with his dad Michael and grandmother Ursula in an ordinary house in an ordinary street - but there’s something different about Tom. He has an astonishing secret - his family are Wizards! When the alien Nekross arrive on Earth hungry for magic, there’s big, big trouble in store for all wizardkind.

With the help of his friend and science super-brain Benny, Tom must stop them - but will these two unlikely heroes succeed, or will the Nekross devour all the magic on Earth with disastrous results for the whole planet?

Wizards Vs Aliens (12 x 30 minutes) will be broadcast on CBBC in Autumn 2012.

In other news composer Sam Watts (The Sarah Jane Adventures) has confirmed he is involved in the show, see HERE.

Filming begins!

As the Twitter feeds for numerous members of the crew indicated, filming began on Wizards Vs Aliens today. Directing the opening two episodes is Being Human director Daniel O'Hara. In other news Joss Agnew, award-winning director from The Sarah Jane Adventures, is confirmed as down to helm four episode.

Who's involved?

Thanks to M'Dear on Twitter for the director news.

First script readthrough

The Twitter accounts of various people involved in Wizards Vs Aliens revealed that today would be a very special one for the show. After some time it appeared that it was the first read through for the series.

Gary Russell, who spent some nine months working on WvA, asked co~creator Phil Ford, "how was the r/t?". Awaiting on that answer! Further details as and when they happen.

ETA: Ford later added:

"Just done the first full cast read-through for Wizards vs Aliens. So excited. Very happy!"

Title change - Wizards Vs Aliens

Russell T Davies has revealed that the show will now be called Wizards Vs Aliens. In an interview with Roy Noble on BBC Radio Wales earlier this week (March 20), RTD stated, "a lawyer stepped in and changed the wording." The showrunner also stated that the series was on course for an Autumn screening.

Follow @wizardsvaliens

Production begins!

Aliens VS Wizards co~creator Phil Ford announced today on Twitter that the sets for the series are being built, as of today! This is what he had to say:

They've started building the sets for #AliensvsWizards. Hoping I might get a sneak peek today.

ETA: Later in the day Ford tweeted:

Well, I've seen the set for #AliensvsWizards (under construction).
All I'm saying is: wow! This is gonna be big.