Nerds, geeks and fanboys all across the world should be thrilled by the decision to cast Scottish actor Peter Capaldi as the latest incarnation of the travelling Time Lord. Fans of TV show The Thick of It and the wonderful film In the Loop will no doubt find it difficult to reconcile Capaldi's incendiary performance as the foul-mouthed, rage-oholic spin-doctor Malcolm Tucker in those works with the charismatic Doctor. I know I will be waiting to see my favourite Galifreyan burst into manic, expletive-strewn tirades against assorted space oddities, villains and unsuspecting aliens, the trademark bulging veins pulsating madly in his skinny skinny neck. Excellent choice.
But it got me thinking...
There are DW fans out there more passionate, committed and knowledgable than yours truly who are no doubt blogging furiously about other casting possibilities, including whether we're ready for a black actor to play the good Doctor. I think we were ready a long time ago for that...Richard Ayoade was seriously considered for the twelfth Doctor, but what about the tasty Colin Salmon? He'd give the Doctor some serious sex appeal, no?
But consider this alternative: What if, as part of his regeneration, he became a woman? There's enough material in the DW canon / folklore to suggest Galifreyans can change gender when they regenerate. If that's the case, screw getting a black guy to play the doctor and give us a chick instead. And what about some nice hot boy eye-candy as the Doctor's companion?
Consider a Doctor played by outsized aristo funny-girl Miranda Hart (with the elfin James McAvoy as her platonic boy toy) or one portrayed by serious thespy Emma Thompson. She'd bring her own special mix of whimsy and gravitas to the part, surely? How about Emily Blunt or Kate Winslet in a couple of years? Helena Bonham Carter has some comic chops. I'd even give it to Kristen Wiig if I thought she could pull off a convincing English accent (for we are not yet ready for a female AND American Doctor...).
It'll be a couple of years before we need to consider the 13th Doctor. Until then...
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