Sneak Peek "Doctor Who"

Sneak Peek new posters promoting BBC's continuing sci fi TV series, "Doctor Who".

Actor Matt Smith, star of the series, recently signed to appear in fourteen new episodes, executive produced by Steven Moffat. Air dates for the new shows TBA.

BBC also reports there will be six more episodes of the current series to be screened later this year and a new 2011 "Doctor Who Christmas Special", airing Christmas Day over BBC 1.

Debuting in 1963, "Doctor Who" depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the 'Doctor' who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the 'TARDIS'.

Along with a succession of companions (Karen Gillan), he faces a variety of foes while working to save humanity.

The series is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world.

It also ranks with Guinness as 'the most successful' science fiction series of all time, in terms of its overall broadcast ratings, DVDs, book sales and iTunes downloads.

Because of the 'shape-shifting' nature of the Doctor, the character has been principally played by eleven actors. The transition from one actor to another is written into the plot of the show as 'regeneration', whereby the character of the Doctor takes on a new body and, to some extent, new personality.

Matt Smith took up the role after actor David Tennant's final appearance in an episode broadcast January 2010.

The show's sixth series (Season 32), beginning April 2011, aired seven episodes before a three month hiatus, returning to BBC America, August 2011.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Doctor Who"...

"Apes" Rule With $77 Million Weekend

The Vancouver-lensed, 20th Century Fox feature "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", rebooting the "Planet of The Apes" series has opened in first place over the August 5, 2011 weekend in North America, with an estimated $54 million from 3,648 theaters, averaging $14,803 per theater.

"Apes" grossed another $23.4 million in 26 overseas markets to push its worldwide total to $77.4 million in one weekend.

"...Set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale...

"... a science fiction/science fact blend, where man’s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy..."

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes", directed by Rupert Wyatt, stars James Franco, Brian Cox, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow, Freida Pinto and Tom Felton.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes"...