The Ninth Doctor's Alternate Regeneration: John Lennon

[Messianni]

Christopher Eccleston to play John Lennon

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/11/29/christopher-eccleston-to-play-john-lennon/

While Nowhere Boy, the account of John Lennon’s teen years, is drawing tepid to good reviews after a recent London festival debut, I’m still seeing voices of dissent and disinterest aimed at the film, which stars Aaron Johnson as the young Lennon. I’m curious to see how the same people will react to Naked Lennon, an upcoming BBC Four production written by Robert Jones that has just cast Christopher Eccleston as Lennon circa ‘67-’71.

This is the opposite end of the Beatles’ timespan. While Nowhere Boy tackles the years in which Lennon became a songwriter, Naked Lennon will look at the years “when the Beatle was ending his first marriage to Cynthia as Yoko Ono entered his life, coping with the death of manager Brian Epstein and the group’s own messy and acrimonious disintegration.”

Variety reports on the casting, and adds that Claudine Blakely will play the singer’s first wife Cynthia, Andrew Scott will be Paul McCartney, Naoko Mori will be Yoko, and Rory Kinnear will be manager Brian Epstein. The time period was turbulent, obviously, which should make for ample on-screen fireworks.

This is being produced by BBC 4. Honestly I never would have pegged Eccleston for Lennon, and I'm unfamiliar with the other names on that list, but it should be interesting to hear him put on a Liverpool accent.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^Well Naoko Mori is Tosh from Torchwood, so there's 2 Doctor Who connections.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Hmmm...The Ninth Doctor and Tosh as John and Yoko? That's going to be hard for me to watch. I'll wait for the trailer before I cast judgment, but I wary.

 

[23skidoo]

I think it's great casting, although you'd think Eccleston might be a bit old for Lennon, considering the film is supposed to start when Lennon is in his 20s, but Eccleston's in his mid-40s. Conversely, Mori is perhaps a bit young to be playing Yoko. Still, it'll be interesting to see.

Alex

 

[Samurai8472]

The 10th doctor as John Lennon.

"I'm bigger than Jesus.......no seriously he's a few inches shorter than me"

 

[Winterwind]

I think it's great casting, although you'd think Eccleston might be a bit old for Lennon, considering the film is supposed to start when Lennon is in his 20s, but Eccleston's in his mid-40s. Conversely, Mori is perhaps a bit young to be playing Yoko. Still, it'll be interesting to see.

Alex

My thoughts exactly. The range they picked has Lennon from the ages of 27-31. And Yoko was about 10 years older than John as I recall. Still very interesting and despite the ages of the actors being completely opposite of who they're playing, I will watch this.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Coincidence corner - Mark McGann, brother of 8th Doc Paul, played Lennon in a telemovie called John and Yoko - A Love Story. It also featured DW and TW guest star Peter Capaldi as George Harrison.

Funny, when I saw a headline saying 'Dr Who star to play Lennon', I assumed that it was David Tennant. Can see him as John before I'd see Eccleston in the role, particularly given the age the musician was during this time frame.

 

[ITL]

It'll have to be good to beat Serafinowicz and Wong...

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQr8WzY5zUk[/yt]

 

[Captaindemotion]

I meant to say, I hope Eccleston's Scouse accent is better than the Scottish one he put on in GI Joe ...

 

[Classic Fan]

Odd.

I would never have put Eccleston and Lennon together.

I suppose theyre going on acting ability and not resemblance, cos last time i looked, they look nothing alike.

Besides, Chris is what, 6 3" or something. Huuuuge.