Ncuti Gatwa is the 15th Doctor

[StCoop]

I can understand why people who post here (me included) aren't familiar with him but it is important to remember that he isn't an unknown and is actually a bit of a casting coup. He's one of the stars of a show that's hugely popular worldwide, he's had three BAFTA nominations and has 2.6 million followers on Instagram*. They've basically snagged him just before he got to the point where spending three years in Cardiff wouldn't be attractive to him.


*I wish we didn't live in a world where that matters but it does.

 

[Relayer1]

Is it really so difficult to believe that this was announced exactly as planned in both timing and manner and not predicated on either imminence of filming or hands being forced?

Nothing about it said unplanned, they probably intended to announce it before filming started all along.

They've done this before - they knew it would leak otherwise.

 

[Brendan Moody]

As far as pre-existing profile, this is far more like casting Tennant or Whittaker than Matt Smith; it’s just profile with a different audience. I’m a bit surprised so few people here have seen Sex Education. I know sci-fi and teen dramedy don’t have a ton of overlap, but it does have Scully off The X-Files!

Seriously, though, check the show out if you have Netflix. Even if it’s not your cup of tea, you’ll be able to see pretty quickly that Gatwa has charm and comic timing, which takes you a fair bit of the way as the Doctor.

 

[DS9Continuing]

Hmmm. An actor's bedroom preferences don't interest me, unless they knock on the door and ask me out for a date. The actor is also playing a sci-fi character that was effectively asexual for decades - which was refreshing in of itself.

I wasn't talking about the actor's sexuality (whatever it may be) being relevant to the story or their portrayal of the character. Or about the character's sexuality - even though they have already portrayed all the modern Doctors as being at least comfortable with the concept of same-sex intimacy.

I was talking about how it would be a big thing for representation on TV. We've seen how inspirational it was for women around the world to see themselves reflected in a character like the Doctor after Whittaker's casting, and with Gatwa's casting we now have the second black actor to get the role, and the first to get it on an ongoing basis, which will inevitably have a comparable effect. If the actor was a member of the LGBT+ community as well, it would have no relevance to the character but it would have huge relevance to the audience, as queer kids - especially black queer kids - would get to see themselves effectively playing one of Britain's greatest superheroes.

.

 

[Awesome Possum]

He's good on Sex Education, I can't wait to see what he brings to the Doctor.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

As for "feeling too young", this was the argument against Smith until he showed he could do "old soul in young body" VERY well.

I've recently wondered if Daniel Radcliffe might not make a good Doctor, but despite being - what, 30? now - he still looks too young and I figured "maybe when he's 40 or 50". But then I remind myself of the above.

If he gets to keep his beard (we haven't had a Doctor with a beard and that's long overdue!), then I could see him working. But I don't think we're going to get a white, male Doctor for a very long time.

Given I'm apparently one of the only people on the planet who is...err...very unenthusiastic about Davies' return - to say the absolute least - I don't have any great expectations for this era, but I'll try it and see.

I'm not overly excited about Davies returning (as you may or may not recall, I was often critical of his era, especially the first two series), rather I'm cautiously optimistic between series 4 (my favorite non-Smith series) and the incredible work he did for Years and Years (and what I've heard about It's a Sin even though I haven't watched it yet). I like to think he has matured as a writer since he left Doctor Who and that gives me hope.

But I certainly understand and emphasize why you're unenthusiastic.

As far as pre-existing profile, this is far more like casting Tennant or Whittaker than Matt Smith; it’s just profile with a different audience. I’m a bit surprised so few people here have seen Sex Education. I know sci-fi and teen dramedy don’t have a ton of overlap, but it does have Scully off The X-Files!

Seriously, though, check the show out if you have Netflix. Even if it’s not your cup of tea, you’ll be able to see pretty quickly that Gatwa has charm and comic timing, which takes you a fair bit of the way as the Doctor.

Gillian Anderson is the only reason I've even heard of the show before today so at least now I have two reasons to check it out.

 

[StCoop]

'Sex Education' is watched by 40 million people worldwide. Gatwa doesn't need 'Doctor Who', 'Doctor Who' needs Gatwa.

 

[The Wormhole]

Never heard of him, but whatever. I look forward to his era all the same.

Is it really so difficult to believe that this was announced exactly as planned in both timing and manner and not predicated on either imminence of filming or hands being forced?

If this were planned, I feel there would be a bit more oomph in this, even if that oomph were just a photo of Gatwa standing by the TARDIS.

Besides, the simple truth of the matter is an overwhelmingly large percentage of press releases by BBC are done only because the matter was about to leak anyway or imminent location shooting would prevent it from being secret anymore anyway.

 

[Orac Zen]

I'm not overly excited about Davies returning (as you may or may not recall, I was often critical of his era, especially the first two series), rather I'm cautiously optimistic between series 4 (my favorite non-Smith series) and the incredible work he did for Years and Years (and what I've heard about It's a Sin even though I haven't watched it yet). I like to think he has matured as a writer since he left Doctor Who and that gives me hope.

I don't know that I can share the optimism, but I'm prepared to watch and see. Anything else will depend on the usual details of writing quality, characterisation etc.

But I certainly understand and emphasize why you're unenthusiastic.

To me, Davies is the bloke who introduced the "companions in wuv with the Doctor" stuff I find so tedious, unimaginative and uninteresting. The "Sarah Jane was in wuv with the Doctor" retcon utter crap happened on his watch. One of the best new Who companions, Donna, had her character effectively destroyed by Davies. On those bases alone I cannot share the apparently unbridled enthusiasm many people seem to have over his return. (I'm well aware that's my issue rather than anyone else's, but there it is.) Here's hoping he's moved beyond all that.

 

[Sketcher]

I feel like what Davis got right was his character work. You felt for the characters and what they went through. I especially liked his take on the Doctor where you're never quite sure if he's really the hero the universe made him out to be. Davies' bombastic and often silly sci-fi elements are another story, however...pig people....cat people...giant rhinos and bees...

 

[Haggis and tatties]

He's the fourth Scottish Doctor.

Given that it's been shooting there for 18 years you think they'd have thrown in a Welsh one by now.

Well the announcement was LEEKed early, does that count?


I'll get me coat!

 

[The Nth Doctor]

To me, Davies is the bloke who introduced the "companions in wuv with the Doctor" stuff I find so tedious, unimaginative and uninteresting. The "Sarah Jane was in wuv with the Doctor" retcon utter crap happened on his watch. One of the best new Who companions, Donna, had her character effectively destroyed by Davies. On those bases alone I cannot share the apparently unbridled enthusiasm many people seem to have over his return. (I'm well aware that's my issue rather than anyone else's, but there it is.) Here's hoping he's moved beyond all that.

Agreed on all points. Like I said, I hope he has matured as a writer. But if it's the more of that crap, I won't be happy either.

 

[Lonemagpie]

https://newsthump.com/2022/05/08/fictional-alien-time-travellers-cant-be-black-insist-morons/

 

[Brendan Moody]

Yes, indeed, we can only hope Russell T Davies OBE has “matured” enough that he won’t put any of those pesky emotions in his science fiction anymore. That would be a damn shame.

 

[Redfern]

Davies' bombastic and often silly sci-fi elements are another story, however...cat people...

Cat people I can get behind. Uh, let me rephrase that. Nah, the phrasing works well on multiple levels.

 

[kirk55555]

I'm unfamiliar with Ncuti Gatwa, but RTD's Doctor Who casting was good before, so I'm interested in seeing him in the role and seeing how RTD writes his Doctor.

He's also the first Doctor actor who was born after me, and that I definitely have mixed feelings about, in regards to the fact that it makes me feel ancient at 31 years old

 

[The Wormhole]

Huh, that's a pretty good point about age. This is also the first time for me the Doctor is played by someone younger than me. The Doctors closest to me in age are Smith and Whittaker, who are both three years older than me.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

He's also the first Doctor actor who was born after me, and that I definitely have mixed feelings about, in regards to the fact that it makes me feel ancient at 31 years old

Welcome to the club! Matt Smith and Jodie Whittaker already did that for me, both of whom are mere months younger than me.

 

[thribs]

Looks a little young but I'll give it a watch. I'm sure nothing important happened since Capaldi.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

How does Ian Levine feel about it?