Wow, I’m Cynical Today

[meddow]

Seems everywhere I hang out or lurk in Who fandom, people have latched onto the idea of Jack Davenport for the Eleventh Doctor. It’s not really that out there as suggest, after all now multiple-Hugo award winner Steven Moffat is generally though to be replacing Russell T. Davies as the show runner when he leaves, and RTD had a habit of hiring leading men from previous projects as to play the Doctor (CE was in The Second Coming and DT in Casanova). And, well, the general impression I’ve got that is that nobody wants James Nesbitt (which I agree with, he’s too creepy).

Problem I have with this is that I would love Jack Davenport being hired as the Eleventh Doctor. This is me we’re talking about – I’d watch Jack Davenport read the phonebook. And I think he’d be an excellent actor to play a more reserved, emotionally stable Doctor, which I think is what we’re going to get after the manic depressive Ten (yes, I’ve given this some thought, hell I’ve even come up with some nice character development for Eleven – again this is me we’re talking about, of course I’ve given it too much thought).

Also, fandom crossover. There’s been very little Pirates of the Caribbean/other fandom spill over. All that’s been had is that Jonathan Pryce played the Master in The Curse of the Fatal Death which isn’t canon, and the guy who played Cotton was in Robots of Death. No New Who crossover at all.

But this is not good, because it’s never going to happen. Why? Because it’d be too awesome for words and things that brilliant just don’t happen. And there’s that whole issue of the fact he’s the lead in an American TV show these days. Even worse is that I’ll get my fangirl hopes up (if I haven’t so done so enough already) and someone I’m indifferent too – or even worse someone I don’t like – will be cast, and my fangirl heart will be broken once again.

I know I’m being cynical, but can you blame me. My favourite characters in other fandoms have had an unfortunate habit of being killed off on me lately, and not even in cool ways – they all just end up being cannon fodder (bitter? me?).

Though I will leave this post with this link: Jack Davenport as Steven Taylor in the scene with the cushion rant in which Daleks come up (the Who references are strong in Coupling). And we call all ponder on the question of why none of the Coupling actors have been cast in Who episodes.

Comments

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

A lot of people are going on about Jack as the Doctor, but as you pointed, he's now living in Los Angeles and part of a US Network series called Swingtown. It's not even airing until mid-season (so January/February '08) and assuming it does well enough to run the requisite 13+ weeks, there probably wouldn't be enough time to negotiate anything with him Who-related if it then wasn't picked up for the 2008-2009 season here.

Steve Moffat scotched the James Nesbitt rumours a few weeks ago. I actually would be very happy to see him (Nesbitt) on the show but it's not going to happen. I think there is a very good chance that Moffat might be offered the show runnership esp with 2 Hugos under his belt. The latest legit rumblings I've heard is that Series 5 might actually be a bunch of specials under RTD's aegis in 2009 starring DT and then S6 would be Moffat's baby with a whole new cast/crew. Personally, I'd like to see Richard Coyle on Doctor Who or even as The Doctor.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Exactly, Swingtown shoves one hell of a spanner into the works when it comes to this piece of speculation.

I would love to see DT do the 5th series, partly because I think it would make the switch from RTD to his successor that smoother and partly because though I've moaned about him a lot during Season 2, he's really grown on me. Though I really don't like the idea of a bunch of specials, purely because there will be less DW.

Now, Richard Coyle would make for a good Doctor, possibly Troughton-esq (though with his reluctance to become typecast it would be quiet the coup to get him into the role).

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

It's been kind of frustrating seeing so many people on various boards/communities quoting that particular rumour as gospel. From what little I've read, it seems like Jack's moved to LA pretty much permanently (along with half of the UK talent pool). I'm guessing if Swingtown doesn't make it, he might consider doing something else but in a way, Doctor Who seems awfully small potatoes after a major motion picture from Disney.

I adore DT and I would love for him to stay but the whole doing 2 Shakespeare plays with the RSC from July to November 08 kind of kills the idea of S5. At least as a 13 episode series. That's why the rumour about DW specials seems possible -- especially if he and RTD are working towards a good transition point for everyone. Dunno.

Richard Coyle's actually a pretty versatile actor so I think he would be interesting as the Doctor. I've seen him do some very different things and have read about others (sadly missed him in "Don Carlos" with Derek Jacobi but friends who saw it were blown away). I wouldnt mind seeing Ben Miles do the role either although he seems to be so busy doing a million things at once that I'm not sure he would have the time.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Well, while DW is obviously not PotC big, I’ve gotten the impression it’s one of the biggest things in Britain at the moment, probably bigger than a lot of US shows. After all, for better or worse, it did land Kylie.

I’ve only seen Richard Coyle in Coupling and The Libertine and I’ve always heard amazing things about him in other roles. If not the Doctor, then maybe the villain in a two parter, something that gives him something to do. And Ben Miles showing up would just make my month XD

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I give Swingtown about a month before it's canceled, so I'm not stressed on that front. (Rather like I give Moonlight and Pushing Daisies about the same amount of time before they're both canned and Sophie Myles and Anna Friel can go back the UK.)

Mostly, though, I don't want Davenport to get the role, because I've spent so long teasing piecesofalice about her passionate love for him that I can no longer take him seriously as a human being.

...David Thewlis for Eleven?

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Britain’s lost Sophia Myles as well? Some sort of British actor snatch and return programme needs to be set up. Or at least a movement to let them use their natural accents.

Now David Thewlis - that would be hilarious. I have great difficulties taking him seriously (which is very unfortunate when watching the Sirius death scene in OotP).

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

Excuse my ignorance, but is it official that DT is leaving DW, or is it just assumed/speculation at this stage? I ask because I don't follow DW, so I really honestly don't know. And it is a shame, because everyone seems to love it, and I want to love it too, and I think I could really get into it, but I really disliking picking up anything in the middle of a series, and can't seem to get my grubby hands on any of the DVDs. I would have to resort to torrenting, and on dialup it just isn't going to happen.

LE SIGH.

But as for Davenport, that is a surefire way to get me to watch DW, even though I want to watch it anyway. I wish Jack all the success in the world, so wouldn't mind if DW became part of that. In all honesty, even though he has done a huge big budget film for Disney, he seems to always head back to TV, doesn't he? Perhaps it is his prefered genre, I don't know, but I just love the Davenport too much to see him lounge around being unappreciated. Anything that gets him more time for me to admire him (not that I don't do that enough) is fine by me!

[meddow.livejournal.com]

It’s not official, but no actor’s done more than three seasons as the Doctor since Tom Baker in the 1970s and that he’s scheduled to be in the RSC’s production of Hamlet next year when they should be filming season 5 which is fuelling the speculation. It’s Doctor Who though, they’ll just have him die and then regenerate into another actor and the show will continue on. There’ll be bitching and moaning from fandom, but cast change is the only constant in Doctor Who (that and the phone box).

If you want to pick up on Doctor Who, generally it’s not a hard show to get into starting early or mid season (and I know for a fact that the overarching plot for the current season doesn't really begin until this Sunday). The general premise is that there’s the Doctor, he’s a 900 year old manic depressive alien who can’t die, happens to be the last of his species and picks up random earth chicks and takes them travelling around time and space in a phone box which is bigger on the inside (the Tardis) because he’s lonely (currently Martha Jones – med student who shall be on her second trip on this Sunday and is still learning the ropes, so now’s a good time to tune in). That’s all you really need to know. The reason why the show’s lasted so long is that we know next to nothing about the Doctor, in nearly 45 years of the show we’ve yet to find out his real name.

I love JD doing TV, he’s always the lead. Instead of watching patiently for the main characters to get out of the way and give him a line, he’s there at the front. I'd imagine that exposure appeals to an actors as well.

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

Ooh thanks! I might give Sunday's episode a go then. I get the general premise of the DW idea, but as you said - now might be a good time to pick up, perhaps.

I love JD on TV too. It is strange that in film he is usually always a supporting actor, and yet on TV he is the lead. But I don't care as long as the work is good and there is more JD around for us all ;)

[gwynevere1.livejournal.com]

Excuse my ignorance, but is it official that DT is leaving DW, or is it just assumed/speculation at this stage?

I mentioned this below (but in case you missed it :) ) ---
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2007/09/03/48471.shtml ---

The BBC has confirmed that Tennant is staying through 2009, so no new Doctor would be needed until 2010. :)

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

Ahh, I didn't read any further down, as your comment wasn't there when I commented. But thanks for the link! :D

[gwynevere1.livejournal.com]

BBC have confirmed the specials rumors in 2009, with Tennant staying in the role, so that throws a monkey wrench into your entire speculation:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2007/09/03/48471.shtml

Doctor Who to return for fifth series in 2010.

After months of media speculation, the BBC can confirm that the BAFTA award-winning Doctor Who will return for a fifth series in Spring 2010.

Viewers are in for a treat this Christmas, as a special episode starring David Tennant and Kylie Minogue will be broadcast on BBC One in December 2007.

Series Four, which went into production in July 2007, will hit UK screens in Spring 2008, followed by a special episode for Christmas 2008.

In 2009 Doctor Who will return with three specials starring David Tennant, with Head Writer, Russell T Davies.

The full-length fifth series will transmit in 2010....

So, it wouldn't be until 2010 that a new Doctor would be needed.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Well that gives them a lot more time to cast the new role, and I suppose it’s easier finding someone when the whole world knows they are looking rather than trying to do it without spoilers getting to the public.

[prettyannamoon.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. Now you're responsible for raising my hopes too!

But seriously, interesting info in the comments. I still haven't watched Utopia, so I'm behind on the DW rumors. And so much YES to the comment, "nobody wants James Nesbitt."

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Heh, sorry dude ;)

You know, I hope James Nesbitt doesn’t read the internet, he’s less popular with the Who crowd than Catherine Tate.

[prettyannamoon.livejournal.com]

I feel kind of bad saying it - he's great for other roles, but he's just not a Doctor.

[(Anonymous)]

I've always rather fancied Paul Bettany for Eleven. Then again I just saw Steven Mackintosh in something and really liked him too. I checked out his bio and low and behold he's been on Who before (Timelash)!
Are either of these posibilities? I'm not a Brit so I will defer to ya'll on this debate! :)

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Paul Bettany would be brilliant! Though probably too famous to take the role. Not sure about Steven Mackintosh, I've never really seen him in anything.