Now, unfortunately this week's big question may cause silence to fall, but I'm going to ask it anyway. Doctor who? Or more specifically, who should be the next doctor?
I wasn't originally going to ask this, but after Kaldath suggested it to me, I went on the internet and found plenty to get annoyed about. I am only aware of a couple of other brits who use this site besides myself so I know a lot of the names on this list won't mean much to a lot of you, but here's a run down of all of the names I've heard in connection with this role, plus my thoughts on their likelihood.
Rory Kinnear (Quantum Of Solace, Skyfall): Now, as far as I'm aware, he is the bookies favourite to get the role, but I'm not so sure. Having been in the last two Bond films, sort of sets him up as a more well known face, and everyone who has played the Doctor has always become famous through the role, not got the role because they're famous. Plus I can't imagine what sort of Doctor he would play. Admitedly I've only got the aforementioned Bond films to go on, because I haven't seen him in anything else, but still, I'm not sure about this one.
Ben Daniels (House Of Cards, Merlin, Law & Order: UK): This one I would be more open to. I'd imagine he'd be a very good Doctor, although more Peter Davidson than John Pertwee. However, seeing as the Doctor seems to be getting younger each time he regenerates, and seems to be becoming more of a sex symbol since the relaunch, he not going to be as popular as some of the younger contenders on this list (although having said that, it might be a good idea to have an older Doctor again for precisely that reason).
Russell Tovey (Being Human, Him & Her): This one would be a very popular choice, and he is brilliant, no doubt about it. My only problem is he's been on the show before, as Alonso in the Christmas episode set on the Titanic spaceship, and, in a lesser appearance as the same character, meeting Captain Jack at the end of David Tennant's last episode. I don't think it would be a good idea to cast someone who's already been a character of the day in a previous series.
Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Brideshead Revisited, Cloud Atlas): He's young, good looking (so I'm told by a friend) and he's proven he can play the brain-box, but I am once again not sure. I think he looks too weak, too in-the-background to get away with dominating the room like the Doctor does. But then again, I had my doubts about Matt Smith and look how that turned out.
David Harewood (Homeland, The Vice): The first black actor on this list, he wouldn't be a bad choice. But again, he's been in it before, even more recently than Tovey (Joshua Naismith in Tennant's last two episodes), so the same problem applies.
Paterson Joseph (Peep Show, Green Wing): Another black actor, probably a better bet than Harewood, because he's less well known at the moment. But yet again, he's been on the show before (Weakest Link winner in Bad Wolf), but this time is was a fairly early one that I'm sure not many people will remember his part, so it could be pulled off.
Colin Morgan (Merlin): This one is interesting, he's proven he can play the Doctor type role already with Merlin, he's young, he's already helmed an immensely popular TV show on the BBC (although on a lesser watched channel BBC3) and it would bring in a lot of new fans (providing that there was anyone who watched Merlin but not Doctor Who, the demographics were so similar). However, his greatest strength could also be his greatest weakness, he's so identifiable as Merlin, it might be hard for people to see him in this new, career defining, role.
Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty, 28 Weeks Later, Eragon): Don't know much about this one, but once again it would be a return to an older Doctor, whilst he has the look and the credentials to pull it off, I don't know if the producers are going to want to go down that route.
Richard Madden (Game Of Thrones): Young, popular and could bring in more new viewers, especially in the States. He's not that well known, but then again, he's only really had on going roles in three or four series, and only two of them being a main role, so he may not have the experience needed.
Jonny Lee Miller (Elementary, Eli Stone, Dexter): Another one that would bring in interest from the states. More experienced than Madden, if he can pull off Sherlock Holmes he could definitely do the Doctor, but of course, the big draw back is that Elementary (to the best of my knowledge) is still on going, so he's booked up.
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things, 2012, done some Shakespeare): He's done Shakespeare (like Tennant) and he's not a bad actor judging by the amount of awards he's been nominated for. Even then, he's not well known (possibly because his name isn't one that trips of the tongue that easily). He's got an outside chance and could possibly be the best bet if they wanted a black Doctor.
Colin Jackson (3 of Pierce Brosnans Bond Movies, Alien vs. Predator): A recognisable face and he's got good credentials, but of course, he's a) been in some big movies and b) played Dr. Moon in The Silence In The Library and Forests Of The Dead, so I'm not sure about this one.
Richard Ayode (The I.T Crowd): I'm going to nail my flag to this one and say I'd love to see this happen. He's got the wacky looks and personality to carry off a decent Doctor, he's funny and it would shut up the p.c lot saying that there needs to be a Doctor of some sort of minority. However, I've only heard his name mentioned by a few people, so it doesn't seem likely.
Of course there are some ridiculous suggestions:
Tom Hiddleston (as if you didn't know), Benedict Cumberbatch (again you'll know his stuff) and David Tennant (yeah, I know): The former are both just fantasies for a lot of people and it would be stupid of them to give up careers in Hollywood to come back to the U.K to do Doctor Who. And as for Tennant coming back, it's not going to happen (apart from the 50th of course).
Of course, there's been a lot of talk about there being a female Doctor this time. Now apart from the confusion this would cause, rewriting half of all Time Lord folklore and everything, I'm not sure that bowing to pressure from p.c groups is the right way to go here. But still, might as well run through the contenders.
Olivia Colman (Peep Show, Green Wing, Broadchurch): Good actress, funny and very popular at the moment, but as with half this list, she's been in it before, in Matt Smith's first ever episode in fact. (It's starting to seem that there's only 20 actors in Britain the way I'm going on isn't it.)
Zawe Ashton (Fresh Meat): Now I don't know a lot about her other than she was suggested as a companion for the Doctor a few years ago and I hear she's a good actress. Still she'd really keep the p.c lot happy, being both black and female.
Sue Perkins (Mel & Sue): If they were going to have any woman play the Doctor, Sue Perkins, in my opinion, is the only woman who could do it. He has that sort of look about her, she's smart and funny to boot.
Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles Of Narnia trilogy): Too well known and, in fact, too quirky. She could get away with the smart and scary Doctor very well, but I just can't get the image of her as the Ice Queen out of my head when ever I see her.
Helen Mirren (I'm sure you don't need me for this bit): She's gone on record as saying she'd love to do it, but once again, I think she's too well known, plus I don't think she'd be good at all of the running the Doctor does. She has the air of authority needed to dominate a room like the Doctor does, but I can't imagine her doing all of the technobabble. If she was going to do anything in Doctor Who, I could imagine her playing a female Time Lord president, or something along those lines.
Some good points they should consider who ever they cast is that, even though the Doctor has never been black, asian or female, he's also never been ginger, and they've been talking about that the last couple of regenerations (Tongue in cheek suggestion of Rupert Grint here). Also, the Doctor needs to get darker, he's getting closer to becoming the Valeyard (who lies between the doctors twelfth and final incarnations), which has been reconfirmed by The Great Intelligence in the last episode (unless that is who John Hurt is playing in the 50th).
Of course, all of this speculation could be for nothing. They might have already told us who's going to be the next doctor at the end of the last episode. John Hurt as The Doctor, it could happen.
Now for you guys to have your say.
I’m not going to chime in with an opinion here, as I’m not really a whovian, but I have a question: Your comments imply that there is a predicted future end to the series. Do you think they’d change that to continue on “forever” due to the fact that this show has become liked internationally and also has a lot of younger people interested in it?
They have said that there is a finite number of regenerations a time lord can have, but other time lords have been known to go beyond the allotted 13 regenerations, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they allowed the doctor to cheat the rule. Besides, they only say the Valeyard is between the next and last regenerations, they don’t say what number that last regeneration is, people just assume it’s either 12 or 13 because those are the last two regeneration numbers.
I can’t really see an end to the series any time soon, considering how popular it is still.
I absolutely love the thought of Hiddleston, but I fear playing another cosmic character (on tele, no less) may diminish his role as Loki, which is genre-defining and iconic. I, too, am not a true Whovian. I only religiously watched re-runs of the series as a child when they aired it here locally. At that time the Doctor was played by Tom Baker. When I hear Dr. Who, I always picture him.
@Worf, A time lord is only suppose to be able to regenerate a total of 12 times before he or she dies for good, however I have heard that there is some consideration of doing away with that particular bit of Time Lord trivia and allowing the Doctor to regenerate as many times as the show producers want him to. From what I understand there is some precedence for this already as I understand the Master has regenerated more then 12 times already.
To add a name to the list above, I came across a petition online the other day asking for Hugh Laurie to be made the 12th doctor Since “House MD” is being canceled.
British invasion for this question.
I got a lot of my speculation fuel from this:
http://www.skybet.com/tv-and-film-specials/next-doctor-who/event/15032117?aff_id=7945&dcmp=snt-bet-DoctorWho
According to the, Ben Daniels is still the strong favourite. Which I’m fine with. While I’m not personally familiar with his acting, seems a pretty strong stage personality. Also, Moffat’s been reported as saying he thinks the doctor should be around 45 – which makes me think they’ll be going older for this one anyway.
People saying he should be a woman… HE’S A MALE TIMELORD, REGENERATION DOESN’T WORK LIKE THAT.
If you want a female version, just petition that they bring back Romana. Also, while the Hiddlestone and Cumberbatch stuff is interesting to think about… they wouldn’t really be right. Good actors, but not for the role. Also, it’s a thing about time and schedule. No way those to can go to Cardiff for most of the year.
Similarly, just personally opinion, I don’t see Kinnear or Tovey. Ben Whishaw is interesting… only that I think he could’ve worked as the 11th, being a similar type to Matt Smith. So if the don’t go with the age thing and do go younger – I’d want the 12th to be different from Matt Smith.
I’m not a great fan of using actors who had previous parts. The acception being that the original part was so minor that it isn’t that big a deal (as with Karen Gillian) or there’s some explaination offered (as with Freema Ageman).
One name that surprised me initially but I really liked the more I thought of it… was Rupert Grint.
While all 3 of the main Potter stars are on the list (with Radcliffe and Watson being at 100/1) Grint would actually be possible. It’d be a nice chance for him to establish his own acting identity without the other 2, and the Doctor could finally be ginger (too much dark hair of late). My only worry with Grint (and I don’t say it to sound mean)… I’m not sure how actually good an actor he is. I mean, he first got cast as a kid and then stayed till the end of the series. And he hasn’t exactly done much else, like the other two have.
I’m also a fan of Paterson Joesph from Peep Show, so I think he’d do good to.
And yeah, I think John Hurt is the valeyard, or something valeyard esc at least… maybe even The Other
There were some names on that list I hadn’t heard being talked about, some good (Simon Pegg), some I’m not so sure about (Chris Addison and Timothy Spall) and some that I don’t know what the hell they’re thinking (Russell Brand?????). Damien Lewis could be a good shout. However, I did laugh when I saw Jenna Louise Coleman’s name there, that would be confusing. I love the fact she’s got the same odds as some of the possibles, she’s the current companion?
@Kaldath: Hugh Laurie would be interesting, but to be honest I’d much rather see his old partner, Stephen Fry, on Doctor Who.
three words:
ANTHONY.
STEWART.
HEAD.
I’m still holding to the idea that John Hurt is the 8th Doctor after the Time War, the much, much older version of Paul McGann. I mean, we never really find out what happens between the American Doctor Who movie and Christopher Eccleston taking up the role.
Who will be the next Doctor? Apparently, Wil Wheaton had heard that Chiwetel Eijofor was a lock( http://www.themarysue.com/doctor-who-12/ ) but I’m regarding still regarding it as a rumor, but one I’d be happy with. Colin Morgan was an interesting candidate, but again, he was already in an episode of Doctor Who (Season 4, Midnight), although the fact that I’m the first person to bring this up might make this casting okay, as most people don’t seem to remember this one. I’d love to see Richard Ayode cast as the Doctor, because that would just be nuts, but also pretty unlikely.
Also, DO NOT cast Benedict Cumberbatch as the Doctor (although also unlikely), because there is no way he’d be able to do both Doctor Who and Sherlock without burning out, and I’d rather that Sherlock runs its course. On the other hand, if Moffat wants to revive The Master, then I vote Cumberbatch as a big yes for that role.
Oh yeah, also the weirdest name I saw bandied about for the next Doctor: Billie Piper. Rose Tyler cannot be The Doctor. No former companion can. That would be confusing beyond belief.
I don’t know ANY of the rest of these people, but Hugh Laurie? Best. Doctor. EVER! 😉 {Which is why it’s probably not going to happen…}
I too would love Richard Ayoade as the Doctor. I also like Barbario’s suggestion of Anthony Stewart Head.
What say you to Rowan Atkinson? Not Mr. Bean Atkinson, more like Blackadder Atkinson (with the cunning plan trait, not the horrible person trait). My guess is it won’t be someone that old though.
Or (since we’re romping through Fantasyland here) if Neil Gaiman became an actor …
Unquestionably H. Laurie would do well. I’m guessing Rupert G. would, but would need a lot of direction. Pegg would be great fun, but I imagine he’s caught up in ST for a while.
As for a woman, his current companion would be ‘explained.’ So much time jumping and dealing with stuff like the goo that doubled people, various toxic and radioactive influences gives him a tweak and he’s her for several hops till getting killed again.
I’m afraid I don’t know a lot of the other names, but from what I can see, most of them would do alright. It’s an actor’s job to be someone else, and ALL of them can to some degree. As for reinsertion of an actor? That could actually be great in DW.
“Oh, bloody H—! I look like that guy from so-and-so! [pulls at face] Why not Cary Grant? Why not FGERTYOP?!”
“Who?”
“Little mauve tentacles. Handsome as King Lear. You’ve never seen a winter of discontent without the mauve tentacles–“
I’ve long favored a female doctor, and even drew (though not shared, before you get upset) and HM picture of what she might look like! I favor someone like British actress Polly Walker, from “Enchanted April” and “Patriot Games.” (She’s a little older now.)
As for John Hurt, I suspect that it’s his father, or some other, older Time Lord from whom he *assumed* the mantle of the Doctor, after he failed to practice what he preached. It’s “the Doctor,” all right, but not the same individual.
Anthony Stewart Head- Even though he has been in it before (School Reunion), that is such a good call there, he’d be epic.
Hugh Laurie- As great as he is in House, over here everyone remembers him best from Jeeves & Wooster, Fry & Laurie or Blackadder, where he plays the bumbling idiot. Could be good, but I’m not sure.
Rowan Atkinson- Just so long as he picks up a companion called Bob.
I love the idea of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Master, he has a certain look that he gives that is that character right to the core. It would work especially well with a darker Doctor to play off. If they’d bring the Rani back it’d be even better.
As for John Hurt’s character, could be the eighth Doctor, they haven’t ever gone into that period of the Doctor’s life very much outside of passing references in the first series and in Dalek/ Master episodes. It would be something I’d like to see them focus on a bit more, if not in the tv series then in the books or comics.
BREAKING NEWS
Straight after I posted the above comment, I stumbled across this.
http://tennantnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/will-twelfth-doctor-be-announced.html
What do you guys think?
Not convinced hugely myself, as they’re all completely out of the blue suggestions that no-one else has come up with yet, although you never know.
Not to say I agree or disagree either way, but I doubt Matt Smith was on the public’s mind when they were casting the Eleventh Doctor. Just food for thought.
Polly Walker would be brilliant. Loved her in “Rome”.
I think Ayoade would be the best choice. As long as we’re talking about the IT crowd, though, what about Chris O’Dowd (Roy) or, if they want to go in a different direction, Katherine Parkinson (if the Doctor must be a woman)?