Since news of David Yates potential feature film adaptation of Doctor Who disseminated rapidly across cyberspace, a wild fire of speculation began to spread. From the optimistic to the pessimistic outlooks, people leapt on the news and shared their thoughts on how it may turn out. But of course, one of the main things on people's minds is; who will play the Doctor?
I've scoured various
articles and forums, and read some of the suggestions of who they
would want to play the Doctor (some good, others... well...). The
predominant thought is that the actor would have to be British, with
a suitably British script to accompany it. So, without further ado,
here's my list of potential actors to play the Doctor in the movie...
Benedict Cumberbatch
Ever since he took to
our screens as the modernised Sherlock Holmes, Cumberbatch has been a
strong favourite among Who fans to portray a future Doctor.
With his distinctly ethereal air, and the unique arrogant flamboyance
as Sherlock, he seems perfect to play the role of the Doctor be it on
television or film and he had discussed taking on the role of the
Doctor with his close friend David Tennant, just as Tennant's
incarnation was coming to a close. Although it did appeal to him,
Cumberbatch elected not to try for the role, stating that he thought
“it would have to be radically different. And anyway, I didn't
really like the whole package – being on school lunch boxes.”
I can see Cumberbatch
possibly working alongside Carey Mulligan as the Doctor and
his companion. Having featured in an episode of Doctor Who as
almost-companion Sally Sparrow, Mulligan has already shown her
ability as a potential adventurer of time and space, and with her
rising fame she would be a fine candidate for the cinematic
companion. However, as Yates wishes to move away from the TV series,
it's unlikely we'll see the return of Sally Sparrow on the big
screen. But nonetheless, Sparrow or not, I can still see Mulligan
making a very natural and down-to-Earth companion for the Doctor, and
reckon she and Cumberbatch would work splendidly together.
Matt Smith
Not so much a valid
suggestion as a little fantasy. As Yates's take on Doctor Who
will not be tied to the series, this really won't be happening, but
at the current rate it looks set to be produced around the time
Smith's current contract comes to an end (although this doesn't mean
that Smith will relinquish the role at that time - he could easily go
on to rival Tom Baker in both legacy and longevity). Although the
current team behind the television series aren't involved in the film
at this time, if Steven Moffat and David Yates were to collaborate on
the film then I'd quite like to see the adventures of the Doctor with
River Song.
With Alex Kingston starring as the Doctor's wife/companion, the film would follow their adventures leading up to that fateful day when the Doctor knows that this is the last time that he will ever see her. Alas, this is unlikely to happen, but who knows – by the time this film goes into production, perhaps Moffat may have already produced this very story as part of the TV series?
Rhys Ifans
Rhys Ifans has been
proposed to play the Doctor before, in the vast media game of “Guess
Who” when Tennant was fated to regenerate, and for good reason.
Ifans has displayed a penchant for the mad-cap characters, playing
Hugh Grant's comic relief housemate in Notting Hill, and as it
looks like he will be featuring in next year's The Amazing
Spider-Man as the Lizard, Ifans
is set to have a firm foothold in Hollywood. I imagine Ifans could
bring a very new and fresh approach to playing the Doctor - something
completely different and yet familiar, the perfect feel to any
incarnation of the famous Time Lord. Plus, he's Welsh. Wouldn't a
Welsh Doctor be marvellous?!
Robert Downey Jr.
Currently known for
portraying Sherlock Holmes in the Guy Ritchie adaptations of
Britain's most famous detective, and as Tony Stark in Iron Man,
Robert Downey Jr. makes another fine candidate for the role of the
Doctor. Both Holmes and Stark are exceedingly bright, self-important,
and ever-so-slightly off the wall – similar in many ways to a
character brief for the Doctor. Although the Doctor doesn't have the
same kind of arrogant air as Holmes or Stark, I don't doubt that
Downey Jr. would be capable of playing him superbly. He may not be a
British actor, but there is a chance that as this is an American
production they'll maybe be hiring an American actor... Anyway,
in my opinion he'd make a brilliant Doctor!
Hugh Laurie
Having made a huge
success of himself across the pond in the past few years playing the
titular role of popular series House, Hugh Laurie would also
be another good choice for the Doctor. Laurie's role as Dr. House is
remarkably Holmesian, almost Doctor-esque, and beneath his current
American role he is ostensibly British. Also, judging by his previous
roles on British television, having starred in Blackadder and
Jeeves and Wooster, Laurie has a fair amount of eccentricity
that could be let loose were he to take to the controls of the
TARDIS!
Johnny Depp
Throughout his
cinematic career, Johnny Depp has displayed a knack for playing
mad-cap characters, with roles such as Captain Jack Sparrow and the
Mad Hatter among the most memorably unhinged. Jack Sparrow is
probably the best character to use as a likeness to the Doctor, with
his uniquely flamboyant take on heroics and almost hapless cunning.
Plus, Depp is a fantastic character actor, able to portray the
maddest of the mad but also the most serious of roles, which is a
magnificent duality for any Doctor. Again, whilst not a British
actor, Depp is certainly an actor who could bring a great deal to the
role – there's no doubt he'd be a fantastic Doctor.
Would it be too cliché
to suggest that his companion could be Helena Bonham-Carter?
They have the perfect chemistry for the Doctor and his companion, and
Bonham-Carter is one of the few people who would be able to match up
to his eccentricities. That being said, though, maybe Depp's Doctor
would need a more “human” and grounded companion to balance
him...
Bron James
He's a little known
actor and writer. A man who knows the future but won't give away the
ending... Admittedly, this is largely the product of fantasy, but
personally I think James would make a superb candidate for the role
of the Doctor!
And as for a companion,
seeing as Yates has said that he'd want to work with the Harry
Potter cast again, how about Emma Watson?
Watson would bring a down-to-Earth feel to the TARDIS, and in my
opinion she would make a brilliant time travelling companion for any
Time Lord (and not just in my fantasy!)... Hopefully the
obligatory kissing scene wouldn't cause the same uproar as it did
with Paul McGann's Doctor and sort-of-companion Grace back in 1996!
If you could pick the
cast for a Doctor Who movie, who would you pick and why? If there's any mention of Robert Pattinson, I will hunt you down... You have been warned!
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