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A tweet from Paul Vanezis on the effects shots:
"None of the original digital projects appear to have survived. However, the clean elements, including mattes were archived to digi-beta but at 30 frames. However, I discovered that everything was at 24P and just had to be retimed, so all of the upscaled effects are in true 24P."
@emsquared He's a legend!
@UKFilmNerd It was the other way around. Some of the gun violence was cut in the UK on first broadcast and VHS. The cuts were waived for the DVD release.
Some people online saying the effects shots are AI upscaled...no official confirmation either way yet. I've only watched the trailer on my computer monitor, not my 4K TV, and while the effects shots look a bit smooth I don't notice anything that jumps out at me as being AI. Wait and see I guess.
Also no mention of HDR yet. You'd hope they'd include it if they've gone to the effort of going back to the original negatives.
And here's the official announcement:
"...all 219 reels of original film (totalling almost 200,000 feet!) have been pulled from deep storage in the US and meticulously scanned...with a 24-frame transfer to match the original film rushes, and immersive surround sound, rebuilt from the original raw sound elements."
Correct frame rate confirmed! It's about time!
And here's the trailer!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnvmFMA4q-A
Looking good! Can't see any upscaling shenanigans.
Also to my eyes it looks like they've re-created the special effects shots, but keeping them looking like mid-90s TV CGI. Nice!
@emsquared Also if you enjoy McGann then I highly recommend checking out his Big Finish audio adventures.
@emsquared I think the only difference between the UK and US versions (other than frame rate...which I hope is now correct! Please no PAL speedup on 4K!) was the opening credits. I think the US one included an extra credit about Doctor Who belonging to the BBC, while the UK one included a tribute to Jon Pertwee who'd recently passed away.
The UK cut was also lightly censored for violence, but the listing mentions that the UK version is uncensored, so the only difference might be the credits.
@UKFilmNerd Looks like it was accidentally leaked early by Amazon, but there will no doubt be a trailer when it's officially announced which will give us some idea of what to expect.
@UKFilmNerd Yeah, there's definitely a worry about AI given the Restoration Team's recent output...but that was for tape based stuff. They've specified that they've gone back to the original 35mm negatives for this one...I can't imagine them going to all that effort just to mess it up with AI. As for the visual effects, my guess is they'll either recreate them or upscale the effected shots.
@UKFilmNerd It was indeed. I think it was a mixed blessing that it never happened. As much as I love McGann and his take on the Doctor (his Big Finish work is a must for all fans) I don't like the plans they had for the US series, which included remaking a lot of fan favourites, making it more of a reboot than a continuation.
@emsquared I assume so. Looks like it briefly went up for pre-order on Amazon then disappeared. More details soon I imagine.
Dolby Atmos and 5.1 were listed though, along with both the UK and US broadcast versions.
Wow! We always dreamed but never dared to hope...but it's finally happening! They've gone back to the original negatives and restored the Paul McGann #DoctorWho TV Movie in #4K!!!
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
@chewie She's got some glorious mutton chops 
Today was the first time we saw Florence turn herself into an orb. She's usually such a long bunny.