When news broke that Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall were leaving Doctor Who, it was only a matter of time before we would find out who the Fourteenth Doctor would be. Now, news has come from the BBC that new and returning showrunner, Russell T. Davies, has begun the casting process for the new Doctor.
The Chibnall era has been divisive, with many fans upset about the casting of Whittaker as the Doctor. Other fans simply don’t care for the “woke” nature of the Chibnall era. Further complaints have come about the writing.
Still, many other fans have enjoyed the time the Thirteenth Doctor has been in the TARDIS. But with just three more specials in 2022, her time is limited. The first of those three specials, “Eve of the Daleks,” which is a festive time loop episode featuring the Doctor’s most feared enemy that will air on New Year’s Day. With her time in the TARDIS coming to an end, it was only a matter of time before the news that auditions for Whittaker’s successor were happening.
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With the announcement of Russell T. Davies as the next showrunner for Doctor Who, fans are hopeful that the show will return to its glory days from when the revival started in 2005 when Davies first acted as showrunner. Davies was responsible for the casting of fan favorite Doctors, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, without whom the revival of Doctor Who would never made it out of the first few seasons. Because of how people view his first time running the show, Davies was considered by many to be a safe choice to replace Chibnall.
Davies’ first episode as showrunner this time around will be in November 2023 for the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who. And since we won’t see the Fourteenth Doctor until Whittiker regenerates, presumably at the end of her last special, Davies has time to find just the right person to take their place in the TARDIS. Of course, speculation has been flying about who the next Doctor will be as always happens whenever it is clear that a new Doctor is coming. There have been many rumors about Olly Alexander, the star of Davies’ most recent series It’s a Sin, stepping into the TARDIS. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Davies debunked those casting rumors, saying, “Behave! Stop it! We have genuinely not cast anyone yet. We’re just starting auditions.”
It is a difficult part to cast, to be sure. To find just the right fit for the next person in the TARDIS, the showrunner has to take into consideration all that has come before as well as where he wants to take the show. David Tenant, the Tenth Doctor, was recently asked by The Hollywood Reporter about the casting decision. He made no bones about the difficulty about casting the role, saying he was glad he did not have to make the decision.
“Hmm. Well it’s a big decision to make, isn’t it? I’m glad I’m not making the decision. It’s a part that can sort of go anywhere, and yet you just know when that casting is right. It’s very hard to pluck someone out and drop them in it. So I’m glad I don’t have to decide. Was that a good dodge to your question?” Tenant said in response.
Whoever is chosen to be the Fourteenth Doctor, one thing is clear. That person, whoever he or she might be, has some mighty big shoes to fill. Fortunately, the Fourteenth Doctor has an experienced hand in Davies to guide them as they launch on their adventure at the end of 2022.
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Rick Bentsen
(45 Articles Published)
Rick Bentsen, when he’s not writing articles for MovieWeb, likes to sit at his typewriter and write his full length novels. And torment his family with Dad jokes.
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