Well, this certainly came out of left field.

According to reports, Lord of the Rings mastermind Peter Jackson has inked a deal with BBC Worldwide and Universal Pictures to produce and direct a feature film version of Doctor Who.

Jackson is a well-known Whovian and has expressed his desire to direct an episode of the show on multiple occasions. This, however, is way above and beyond that goal.

Current Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat is on-board to write the film, having worked previously with Jackson on The Adventures of Tintin.

Apparently the plan is to create a “shared universe,” much like the Marvel superhero franchise. This first film will feature all living incarnations of the Doctor: Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, John Hurt, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Peter Capaldi. Future films would branch out and feature individual Doctors and other supporting characters. Jackson is confident he can get all of the actors on board:

“Of course there’s trepidation on whether Chris [Eccleston] will participate, but I’ve already spoken with Chris several times and he is very enthused with the idea. Sylvester [McCoy] has already adamantly agreed to take part, and we’ve had promising conversations with Tom [Baker], David [Tennant], and John [Hurt].”

Plot details are being kept under tight wrap, as well as any clues as to how the film will explain the advanced age of many of the past Doctors. Also not revealed was whether any past companions would appear along with their Doctor counterparts.

Moffat assures fans that the film will not interfere with the show’s upcoming Series 9, or even the series after that:

“That was a condition I had on doing [the film], actually. It couldn’t run counter to what we’re doing on the show. So Peter [Capaldi] will be in the film, but he is not the focus. We’ve found a pretty clever way around ‘the problem,’ so to speak.”

Moffat and Jackson will both produce the film, along with Jackson’s Wingnut Films partner (and wife), Fran Walsh. Filming is slated to begin this summer in both England and New Zealand, as soon as production on Series 9 is complete. The studio is targeting a Thanksgiving 2016 release date.

I don’t think I have to tell you how exciting this is — it’s almost too good to be true. Peter Jackson has proven his merit as a filmmaker with the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies (which also featured Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy, by the way), and by joining forces with Moffat to create a film franchise they’ll ensure that the end result will not only please fans, but keep continuity with the show — a major concern with previous Doctor Who film rumors.

Shared universes are all the rage right now, too. Marvel has shown how best to pull it off, with Warner Bros. trying the same tact with their DC heroes now. Universal is attempting to build a shared universe with its classic movie monsters, and Paramount just announced that screenwriter/producer Akiva Goldsman will help create a Transformers shared universe.

For Doctor Who, the possibilities would be absolutely endless. Unfortunately, this is an April Fool’s prank and not a word of it is true. Don’t kill me!