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Eccleston turned down chance to be in 50th Anniversary story

JoeZhang

JoeZhang

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The BBC has denied tabloid reports that Christopher Eccleston has 'pulled out' of the Doctor Who 50th anniversary episode.

The Daily Star claimed that Eccleston - who played the Ninth Doctor in 2005 - had agreed to star in the special but pulled out as filming was about to start.

However, the BBC has now told Digital Spy that Eccleston was never attached to the 50th and that his decision has had no impact on production.

"Chris met with Steven Moffat a couple of times to talk about Steven's plans for the Doctor Who 50th anniversary episode," an official source said.

"After careful thought, Chris decided not to be in the episode. He wishes the team all the best."
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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?
 
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.
 
Damn, that's a shame. I always knew it was a long shot but alas.

I'm still hoping Paul McGann will show up...
 
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.
 
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
 
JoeZhang said:
So I guess there was some hope of doing 'The Three Doctors'? Wonder at which stage of the script process this happened?
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Agreed. I was hugely disappointed and upset to read he'd turned it down but he doesn't owe us anything.
 
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:
 
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.
 
Photoman15 said:
I just think these actors who become big because of a show
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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.
 
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.
 
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