Who wants Depp to be The Doctor?

Thursday 1st July 2010, 10:15AM BST.

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Flavour-of-the-decade actor Johnny Depp could take on the role of Doctor Who in a big screen spin-off of the popular TV series. Not if I’ve got any say in it, says blogger Andrew Owen. And as I have absolutely no say in it whatsoever that means it’s probably a done deal.

The story was announced on the fantasy and science fiction website Tor.com. Apparently Russell T. Davies, who revived the series, is working on a US film version and Depp has signed up for title role.

From a personal point of view, I really hope this isn’t true. While I have absolutely no problem with Depp as an actor (and he is a great actor), shouldn’t the Doctor be played by a Brit? I know it’s a well-worn argument, but it would be like casting an American to play ‘Hank’ Potter, or ‘Jimmy’ Bond. It’s a question of the character.

Doctor Who is British. The last time the Americans got their hands on it we ended up with poor old Paul McGann poncing about in a wig and turning into the George Lazenby of Timelords.

If the story is true then its a case of pound/dollar signs being put ahead of casting. Matt Smith is a fantastic Doctor, as was David Tennant and Christopher Eccleston, but as they’re not exactly box office in the US I don’t suppose our movie mogul chums would be keen to risk one of them in a film costing millions to make. It’s their loss.

Oh, hang on a minute, it’s not their loss. It’ll be ours.


  1. 1
    Lauren

    I don’t want depp to be the doctor.
    David Tennant rules!

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  2. 2
    Amber

    Please Please don’t put Depp in as the doctor. That would be incredibly horrible. Matt Smith is just coming into his own, I hope he given a chance.

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  3. 3
    Serena

    Johnny Depp is an amazing actor and would be perfect to play Doctor Who, as he would suit the role very well and would be able to bring something new and special to it. He could easily manage to produce an English accent.

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    • Manny

      But it isn’t about “producing” a British accent but it’s about being British to begin with. Look at the other British things we’ve brought across the pond and tried to re-cast with Americans in them: the main similarity among all of them is that the feeling of the original changes.

      Depp, or any other non-British actor playing the Doctor in a production produced by any non-British studio will be a complete flop.

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      • Serena

        I still believe that Johnny Depp would play a good Doctor Who.

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      • tc

        But it isn’t about “producing” a British accent but it’s about being British to begin with

        …really? isn’t that like saying in order to portray any character you have to essentially be that character in real life….the art of acting is to cause the suspension of disbelief, Depp is fantastic at accomplishing that and the movie would not be any worse for him in the role, no matter where he comes from.

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    • simon

      a word of warning, look what the americans did to “the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy” & “war of the worlds”!,,,, spoilt forever

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  4. 4
    Dori

    This is not a Brit/American thing it is a Johnny Depp is just so many shades of wrong for the role of the Doctor that the end result would kill the franchise

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  5. 5
    Sue

    Big mistake – David Tennant should be approached with the offer of the role – Depp is out of his depth!

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  6. 6
    Colleen Nikstenas

    As much as it pains me to say, “NO” to Depp, I must! Love him, but it really is Tennant’s role to have, his time to shine. Depp already has iconic roles, and will shortly be in danger of becoming a character actor, rather than his choice. Also, David really has not had a fair shake here as yet, and deserves to be put in a starring role that he already knows so well. Why shift now? It is doing fine without the well known US names! Makes us love Brits all the more, too. Don’t deprive us, please, RTD!

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  7. 7
    Nistagmus

    I’d prefer a British actor (although I know that’s being a bit parochial), I’d prefer a less good-looking actor to Mr Depp (because the Doctor is an alien after all and should look slightly un-human (as an aside this is why Matt Smith > David Tennant)), but most of all I’d prefer they didn’t make another Dr Who movie. Cushing was great, but they weren’t good films last time round.

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  8. 8
    Vic

    I don’t think Doctor Who works as a movie. In the old days a movie was seen as a great way of getting all the great fx and making say a 2 hours spectacular. These days the Doctor Who tv show has great effects and I would not like to see it get ruined. It would be great to get Johnny Depp to appear as a guest role in the tv series that might ehnance the audience attraction to the the tv show.

    Vic

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  9. 9
    linda

    i thinkk there is only one actor that can play the doctor in the next doctor who movie and that is david tennant,he is the best doctor

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  10. 10
    spencer

    Don’t care who Dr who is as long as Karen Gillan remains his companion..

    She is hotter than fire..

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  11. 11
    F. Dibnah

    Ayup,since when did we start calling films movies. In my day we went to the “flicks” and watched films :)

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  12. 12
    Serena

    Johnny Depp for The Doctor!!!!!

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  13. 13
    Edna

    Johnny Depp is a good actor, but I would rather see Tim Roth or Gary Oldman in the role of the Doctor.

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  14. 14
    southshrops

    I am disappointed. I thought for a moment Johnny Depp was re-training to be a doctor in Shropshire. Now an appointment with him would be worth waiting a week for :o)

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  15. 15
    Y Mab Darogan

    Tom Baker should be offered the role in any big screen version

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  16. 16
    KarenK

    Don’t care.

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    Ruskel

    Its called acting darling!

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