Bottom line: whoever gets the job, its because he was the right man for it. IMO. Perhaps I am laying too much faith at the producers feet. But I think you kinda have to do that in order to really enjoy the show anyway. 
Doctor Who - Spoilers!
- Thread starter Memnoch
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well, that's convenient and not well thought out. "Because we said so" is equally lame.
And do you even know who Dakota Fanning is? hint: not male or British and is considered a good actress. How about Natalie Portman or Meryl Streep?
Want to answer my question of do you think there should be any continuity or criteria for the persons playing the doctor? Obviously you see ethnicity as no problem. How about gender, age or nationality? I think it'd be mistake to cast a Yank as The Doctor or as James Bond. Any chance we'll see a black 007 or Sherlock Holmes one day?
Could/should anyone play the doctor so long as they are considered a good actor?
Again, I love CE. Just seems like gimmick casting to me.
EDIT: cool. there was an all black cast Sherlock Holmes comedy in 1918. The title: A Black Sherlock Holmes.
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Memnoch
Lt. Vulture
Actually as far as the original series is concerned it wasn't even originally "Regeneration" but "renewal" and 2 was intended to just be a younger version of 1 and not a different person at all. So in that spirit, I would prefer to see it remain a sort of renewal/regeneration but will watch either way.
Of course it's convenient - it's the mechanism that's allowed the series to continue for nearly half a century! There is absolutely nothing in the series to say the Doctor must always be a white male. In fact there's actually quite a bit directly contradicting it! For example:
• In The War Games, the Time Lords offer the Doctor a choice of new bodies from his forced regeneration. One of them is black.
• In Destiny of the Daleks. Romana regenerates into several new bodies, one of which is Greek and one of which is a blue alien!
• In Doctor Who, the Doctor says point blank Time Lords can change species when they regenerate. Gender and race are trifles by comparison.
I know who Dakota Fanning is. I don't believe she's generally regarded as a good actress beyond her niche of bizarrely mature child roles. There are a number of actresses who would be brilliant as the Doctor: Alex Kingston, Tilda Swinton and Emma Thompson spring immediately to mind. Your arguments are very basic straw men; suggesting good actors should be taken as read does not mean all good actors are appropriate. There is a "Doctorish" quality required; perhaps you include "white skin" here.
I'm afraid I don't see the issue here. How does a black actor affect "continuity" or in fact impact the character as a character in any way whatsoever? What is lost?
In the context of the fiction of Doctor Who? Nope. However in practical terms (filming schedules and suspension of disbelief) we will probably always have an adult Doctor. No problem whatsoever with a female Doctor and I am certain we will see one in our lifetimes.
Nationality? Tricky. We've already had two Scottish actors, one of which used his natural accent for the role. I would prefer the character to remain a British role but I also accept that's a completely arbitrary preference.
Absolutely. But these are specious arguments, because neither of those characters have regeneration built into them. It doesn't fundamentally alter 007 to cast (for example) Colin Salmon in the role. The only challenge is to throw film continuity into question - is this a remake? Fine. Is 007 a codename for various men? Fine. Is this supposed to be the same person who was in Dr No? Only here does a problem with continuity arise. Except of course that it's not a problem at all, because Dr No is clearly set in the 1960s and Casino Royale shows the first adventure of a 007 in the 2000s. I would put good money on us seeing a black James Bond in our lifetimes, and it will have nothing to do with stunt casting or any of the PC nonsense people like you witter on about.
Sherlock Holmes is much more problematic due to the social and political realities of Victorian England, although reinterpretations have been done.
Let me guess - you're white.
We've been told several white actors were seriously in the running. This would never have happened if the decision to cast a black actor was an intentional gimmick. Knowing this and yet still insisting it's a gimmick smacks of racism. [And no, I am not calling you a racist.]
I'm not so sure. Listening to Power of the Daleks suggests an even more alien and distancing process than what we now understand as regeneration, and in any event the ring falling off his finger don't exactly imply middle age vs old age to me.
According to Pat Troughton in Peter Haining's book he was intended to be different bodycharacter not merely a renewal.
A bit of trivia: Troughton originally wanted to play the role as an Arab and wear what would essentially be blackface makeup. Imagine how this conversation would be going if he had gotten his way!
It doesn't. And I'm not necessarily against it. Again, seems like a gimmick, but that's what entertainment is all about, trying to draw as many eyeballs as possible.
I said nothing about PC anything.
It's all about attention and ratings. Not racism.Based upon other posts of yours and your eagerness to condescend, I should know better than to engage in a discussion with you.
But thank you for your reply. I was merely interested in what others deemed important for the role. The "doctorish" quality to the actor is a good point and I agree.
Except it obviously isn't, because several white actors were apparently serious contenders. If the whole point was a stunt casting to get attention and ratings, that never would have happened. It's just possible SM cast a wide net to find a terrific actor for the part and it simply never occurred to him that the Doctor had to be white.
I mean, if I was in his shoes, I'd be interviewing women as well, and it would have nothing to do with attention and ratings. You find someone who clicks and go from there.
And I'm not sure someone who wrote post #1462 really ought to be worrying about condescension - especially when shown using specific examples from the series that it was thought out after all.
Darth Caedus
Formerly Congerking
If you guys love CE, like I do, see this film. It's great
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good call, DC. Kinky Boots is great.
He's solid in everything I've seen him in, Serenity, Dirty Pretty Things, Children of Men, Redbelt, Talk to Me, American Gangster, Inside Man and I was lucky enough to see a one of his brilliant performances in London as Othello with Ewan McGreggor as Iago. He's obviously not hurting for film work, interesting that he'd want to sign on to a tv show. But it is high profile and would allow him to stay in his home town a spell, so that's got to be an appeal.
He's solid in everything I've seen him in, Serenity, Dirty Pretty Things, Children of Men, Redbelt, Talk to Me, American Gangster, Inside Man and I was lucky enough to see a one of his brilliant performances in London as Othello with Ewan McGreggor as Iago. He's obviously not hurting for film work, interesting that he'd want to sign on to a tv show. But it is high profile and would allow him to stay in his home town a spell, so that's got to be an appeal.
Since CE is a lot like Chris Eccleston, I wonder if maybe he is only in it for the short run (assuming the rumors are true)?
Hmmm... they do have the same initials.
I have a feeling whomever they cast won't be around for more than a season or two. I doubt we'll see another tenure as long as DT's. It'll be interesting when they finally get to the last of the regenerations and how they work that out, just like this supposed last incarnation of the Dalai Lama.
He's like Eccleston? Consider him added to my list of people I'd like to see get the job,regardless of the BBC's possible motivations for casting a colored actor.
I wouldn't be against another actor having a long run as the Doctor providing the character was evolved over the course of it which hasn't happened with Tennant and the last regeneration thing will be easy enough to get round as if the Master can be granted a new lifecycle,the Doctor can.
Maybe the story that reintroduces Gallifrey & the Time Lords ( it'll happen ) will have the Doctor saving the day and getting a new lifecycle as a reward?
I don't think they're sweating the 13 regenerations thing. Easy enough to dispose of with a single line: "The Time Lords aren't around anymore to enforce the limit" or something like that. Could be a million solutions.
I also have to admit it would not surprise me in the least if CE signed for a single season. I can see gimmickry in that regard - using high profile critical names (like the previous CE) to capture interest and serve as the lead in to a relatively unknown longer Doctor (like Tennant at the time). Certainly CE (again like the previous CE) is a name that would cause the media to sit up and take the show seriously when interest starts to wane.
I also have to admit it would not surprise me in the least if CE signed for a single season. I can see gimmickry in that regard - using high profile critical names (like the previous CE) to capture interest and serve as the lead in to a relatively unknown longer Doctor (like Tennant at the time). Certainly CE (again like the previous CE) is a name that would cause the media to sit up and take the show seriously when interest starts to wane.
Kabukiman
Greatest Person Ever
With no indication on how or when we can see the Christmas special (or any of the specials, for that matter), I'm breaking my own long-standing rule. Come hell or highwater, I will watch "The Next Doctor" tomorrow.
If anyone finds a, ahem, channel to view it in the US, please drop me a PM.
If anyone finds a, ahem, channel to view it in the US, please drop me a PM.
Memnoch
Lt. Vulture
It's December 25! By this time on the 26th I shall hopefully have watched the new special!
Kabukiman
Greatest Person Ever
Check your PM's Jiminydog!
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