Doctor Who: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Autons
2. The Autons Starred In Their Own Movies
During the Dark Times between 1989 and 2005 when Doctor Who was off the air - the show having been cancelled again by the BBC - dedicated fans kept the show alive by any means possible. This included a series of direct-to-video movies, three of which featured the Autons returning to Earth to seek revenge.
Written and directed by Nicholas Briggs - Dalek and Cyberman voice performer and Big Finish Audio Doctor Who chief - and produced by BBV, these Auton movies are still seen to be unofficial by the BBC. They were licensed, however, by Auton creator Robert Holmes' estate and followed on from the late writer's stories.
The trilogy includes UNIT, the Third Doctor's gadgets, references to a certain 'Doctor John Smith', and act as sequels to the classic 70s episodes Spearhead From Space and Terror of the Autons. The Brigadier was also meant to appear as a main character throughout, but actor Nicholas Courtney's illness prevented this from happening.
The movies, with a distinct horror feel, play out similarly to the original Auton episodes. Nestene Energy Units reactivate Autons; they try to take over the world; they're defeated by UNIT.
Released on video as Auton (1997), Auton 2: Sentinel (1998), and Auton 3: Awakening (1999), they have since seen DVD releases and Big Finish have even referenced their events in their productions.
In a time when there was no Doctor Who, the Auton films were an absolute treat for fans and are still loved and revered by Whovians who supported the show through the Dark Times.