Eccleston turned down chance to be in 50th Anniversary story

Discussion in 'Doctor Who' started by JoeZhang, Apr 5, 2013.

  1. JoeZhang

    JoeZhang Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2008
    Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/d...eccleston-quitting-rumours.html#ixzz2PaCgzwHq


    So I guess there was some hope of doing 'The Three Doctors'? Wonder at which stage of the script process this happened?
     
  2. Green Lantern

    Green Lantern Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2012
    Location:
    The bed of whoever pays for the night.
    Oh that is a shame. Although I love the concept of a McGann Eccleston Tennant Smith Four Doctors, I also love the idea of a Smith Tennant Two Doctors. Maybe we could have McCoy replace Eccleston, he's not aged too much since 96.

    But I'm still pretty sad we'll never see Eccleston again.
     
  3. The Nth Doctor

    The Nth Doctor Infinite Possibilities... Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2000
    Location:
    Lost in a temporal and spatial anomaly
    Damn, that's a shame. I always knew it was a long shot but alas.

    I'm still hoping Paul McGann will show up...
     
  4. Green Lantern

    Green Lantern Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2012
    Location:
    The bed of whoever pays for the night.
    My thoughts exactly.
     
  5. Pindar

    Pindar Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2001
    Location:
    NCC - 1031
    Maybe it's wishfull thinking but it sounds like the old Doctors doth protest too much.

    I wouldn't be surprised if all the denials are just a smoke screen.
     
  6. The Nth Doctor

    The Nth Doctor Infinite Possibilities... Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2000
    Location:
    Lost in a temporal and spatial anomaly
    I'd like to think they're all smoke screens but the pessimist in me doubts it.
     
  7. Samurai8472

    Samurai8472 Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2007
    I'd think there'd be some "WHO hotline" where each Doctor actor would call the other one up.


    Tennant's father in-law is Peter Davison. He could bring up the anniversary special.

    "Hey dad. Are you interested in appearing in the anniversary special?"


    Then Davison reaches out to either Tom or Colin Baker or McCoy.

    McGann might be out of the loop
     
  8. Mr Awe

    Mr Awe Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2002
    ^ Yeah, hopefully there's at least one classic Doc!
     
  9. Allyn Gibson

    Allyn Gibson Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2000
    Location:
    South Pennsyltucky
    There were rumors that there were two scripts -- one with the ninth Doctor, one without.

    To be honest, I don't find those rumors particularly credible. For one thing, Moffat's not a particularly fast writer, so the idea that he would spend time writing an unusable script is silly.

    No, what I think is more likely is that Eccleston politely took two meetings with Moffat. One where Moffat laid out his ideas for the anniversary special and tried to impress on Eccleston how much he wanted and hoped Eccleston would be a part of it. And one where Eccleston expressed his appreciation for being asked and said he was going to pass.
     
  10. Mr. Adventure

    Mr. Adventure Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2001
    Location:
    Mr. Adventure
    In other news, the sky is blue.
     
  11. Photoman15

    Photoman15 Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2001
    Location:
    The sunny shores of Trenzalore
    I think McGann would be good, if only to see how 10 & 11 react/treat him, knowing he was the one that used "the moment" that they still feel guilty about

    Oh, and CE obviously has no consideration for how his fans feel. That is a selfish b*st*rd.
     
  12. DalekJim

    DalekJim Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    Location:
    Great Britain
    Eccleston is famously patient and warm to his fans so this is nonsense. He just... didn't wanna accept a job. Happens all the time.
     
  13. Photoman15

    Photoman15 Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2001
    Location:
    The sunny shores of Trenzalore
    It's not nonsense. He can be nice to the fans that come up to him, but basically, his fans would love to see him in at least one more Dr Who. He won't do it.
     
  14. Pingfah

    Pingfah Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2005
    Location:
    Pingfah
    He doesn't owe his fans a damn thing.
     
  15. DalekJim

    DalekJim Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    Location:
    Great Britain
    Agreed. I was hugely disappointed and upset to read he'd turned it down but he doesn't owe us anything.
     
  16. Admiral Buzzkill

    Admiral Buzzkill Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2001
    Eccleston was unhappy with his experience on nuWho, so it's not surprising that he'd pass.

    This will make Rose's interaction with Ten in the 50th a little less complicated, anyway. :lol:
     
  17. Photoman15

    Photoman15 Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2001
    Location:
    The sunny shores of Trenzalore
    I never said he "owed" anyone anything. I just think these actors who become big because of a show, then want nothing to do with it, knowing their fans would want something like this are selfish. I feel the same way about Susan Dey from he Partridge Family and her refusing to even talk about it. CE might have been known in the UK without DW, but no one in the US or anywhere else would know who he was.
     
  18. DalekJim

    DalekJim Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    Location:
    Great Britain
    Eccleston was a celebrity and successful film/TV actor well before Doctor Who. See Shallow Grave, 28 Days Later, Second Coming. Probably the most famous a Doctor Who actor has been before taking the role.

    I've always respected Eccleston for not playing the fame game. He isn't a media whore like John Barrowman and does have principles.
     
  19. Kelthaz

    Kelthaz Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2005
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    Wrong.
     
  20. Pingfah

    Pingfah Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2005
    Location:
    Pingfah
    I don't really see the difference between saying someone is selfish for not doing something to please their fans, and saying that they "owe" their fans something.

    Either way it is an absurd entitlement syndrome. Eccleston's fans have done nothing for him besides consume the entertainment he has worked very hard to produce. The fans who expect him to base his career choices on what they want are the selfish people in this equation.