Based upon characters created for the TV series Doctor Who (1963). The Autons first appeared in the 1970 episode "Spearhead from Space" written by Robert Holmes.
Reece Shearsmith would eventually appear in the new Doctor Who (2005) series, in the episode Sleep No More (2015).
Actor Nicholas Courtney was originally cast in the lead, to reprise his old Doctor Who (1963) role as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, but he fell ill prior to filming, forcing writer Nicholas Briggs to rewrite the part for a new character, Lockwood.
One of the many unofficial spin off movies from the BBC TV show "Doctor who", created using a contract loophole which allowed production companies to license characters directly from their creators.
The Autons later returned in Doctor Who (2005), but only made 2 appearances in the revived series: Doctor Who: Rose (2005) and Doctor Who: The Pandorica Opens (2010).