A press release from the BBC has confirmed that filming on Russell T Davies’ Wizards Vs Aliens (previously titled Aliens Vs Wizards) has begun.

The first pic from the new show has also been released. It features two of the main cast including Tom Clarke (Scott Haran) and Benny Sherwood (Percelle Ascott).

Full details follow:

Filming is now underway on CBBC’s thrilling new action adventure drama, created by Russell T Davies and Phil Ford (The Sarah Jane Adventures, Doctor Who).

Wizards Vs Aliens, produced by BBC Cymru Wales in association with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), will air on CBBC this Autumn. Filming has begun at the BBC’s Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff and on location around the area.

Starring newcomers Scott Haran as Tom Clarke and Percelle Ascott as Benny Sherwood, the series also features Annette Badland (Doctor Who, The Sparticles Mystery) Michael Higgs (Eastenders) Jefferson Hall (Doctors, Emma) and Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones). Don Gilet (Eastenders, Doctor Who) and Nina Sosanya (Teachers, Love Actually) make guest appearances as Benny’s parents.

Wizards Vs Aliens brings magic and sci-fi together to tell an epic tale. Aliens are intent of devouring all the magic on Earth – one 16-year-old boy stands in their way.

Tom Clarke is a seemingly ordinary boy who loves football. He lives with his dad Michael and grandmother Ursula in an ordinary house in an ordinary street – but there’s something different about Tom. He has an astonishing secret – his family are Wizards! When the alien Nekross arrive on Earth hungry for magic, there’s big, big trouble in store for all wizardkind.

With the help of his friend and science super-brain Benny, Tom must stop them – but will these two unlikely heroes succeed, or will the Nekross devour all the magic on Earth with disastrous results for the whole planet?

Wizards Vs Aliens (12 x 30 minutes) will be broadcast on CBBC in Autumn 2012. The executive producers are Russell T Davies, Bethan Jones and Gina Cronk for the BBC, and Bob Higgins and Sander Schwartz for FME. The producer is Brian Minchin and co-producer Phil Ford.

The 12-part children’s drama is set to transmit Autumn 2012 on CBBC.