Actors Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and producer Caroline Skinner speak at BBC America's Doctor Who Panel during Comic-Con International 2012 at San Diego Convention Center on July 15, 2012 in San Diego, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images/AFP)

LOS ANGELES - “Doctor Who” turns 50 years old next year, and to celebrate, BBC Two has commissioned a 90-minute film that will explore the origins of the series, the BBC said Thursday.

“An Adventure in Space and Time” will “tell the story of the genesis of ’Doctor Who,’” the BBC said. “Exploring all aspects of the longest-running science fiction series to date, the special one-off 90-minute drama will also look at the many personalities involved in bringing the series to life.”

Doctor Who was first broadcast in November 1963, and has gone through several iterations, with numerous actors playing the Doctor. (Matt Smith, the 11th actor to tackle the role, is the latest.)

“Doctor Who” writer/actor Mark Gatiss penned the 90-minute special, with “Doctor Who” showrunner Steven Moffat and executive producer Caroline Skinner executive producing.

“This is the story of how an unlikely set of brilliant people created a true television original,” Gatiss said. “And how an actor - original Doctor William Hartnell - stereotyped in hard-man roles became a hero to millions of children. I’ve wanted to tell this story for more years than I can remember! To make it happen for Doctor Who’s 50th birthday is quite simply a dream come true.”

Casting for the movie will be announced next year, along with production and broadcast schedules.