Who would you cast as the Doctor today?

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Realistically. No dead actors. 

I remember Ayoade being a popular choice during the 2010s tumblr days but I reckon that ship's sailed by now. I think Matt Berry could be quite good though. You need a proper eccentric Englishman really. Noel Fielding is too out there. Martin Freeman is too wimpy. I always thought Roy Marsden would've been good, but he's too old now really. Colin Salmon another one. I honestly have no idea who I'd cast. A character actor definitely.

Funny that the same people who would riot if an American were cast didn't even bat an eye when they cast a Rwandan. 

[burrunjor]

Jason Flemying, Jason Watkins, Julian Barratt, Julian Richings, Robert Carlyle, Adrian Edmondson, Danny Webb, Tony Head, 

Sadly Dylan Moran I think is too ill these days. He's struggled badly with his alcoholism the last few years (which probably isn't a surprise given his past.) 

[rushy]

Richard Armitage, Robert Carlyle, Colin O'Donoghue, Henry Ian Cusick, David Morrissey, Mark Gatiss, Naomi Watts, Colin Salmon, Chloe Annett, Paddy Considine, MacKenzie Crook, Damian Lewis, Andrew Lincoln, Matthew MacFadyen, Rosamund Pike, Daniel Radcliffe.

EDIT: I know The Walking Dead sort of overshadows Lincoln's name, but I'd argue that he's not too big for Doctor Who now. He's somehow remained a character actor despite his massive success in America. Maybe he got typecast, who knows? But he's such a phenomenal actor with a wonderfully quirky sense of humour. His Doctor would be totally different from Rick Grimes. 

[Ludders II]

In spite of Whittaker and Gatwah, I think the writing is far more the problem than the casting. Look at Capaldi....

However, A few years ago the missus and I watched the 2016 TV adaptation of War and Peace, with Paul Dano as the main protagonist. I'd never heard of him before and knew nothing about him, but he struck me at the time as a good fit for the Doctor.
Much to my surprise, he cropped up as the Riddler in the 2022 (The) Batman film, but it was his role in War and Peace that put the idea in my head more than anything.
Not because the character was eccentric. I think the modern showrunners have put way too much focus on eccentricity, which is why almost all the modern Doctors have been far too over the top. They need to cast someone capable of playing it straight, but who can be quirky without it needing to be signposted so obviously. But as I say, Capaldi was more than capable of that, but the writers.... the f*cking writers.....

[Cherry Pepsi Maxil]

Jessica Raine. Don't kill me.

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Sir patrick stewart ,Colm Meaney , Tim curry , Hugh Laurie , Kris Marshall ,

[Cherry Pepsi Maxil]

Kris Marshall seems to always be mentioned in the conversation whenever there's a new Doctor. My Mum always used to say, "it's going to be Kris Marshall." I think he's been the Doctor like three times now.

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Colm Meaney he has proven he can play eccentric characters and can be quirky I think he could pull it off .

[Deleted]

Yep I stand by my choice sadly may be too known as chief o brien now.

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Jul 17, 2024 15:50:19 GMT @lex23 said:

Colm Meaney he has proven he can play eccentric characters and can be quirky I think he could pull it off .

His big face is distracting ngl

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Really his big face is distracting yes he's got a big head but cmon he's a good actor dammit.

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Jul 17, 2024 16:54:55 GMT @lex23 said:

Really his big face is distracting yes he's got a big head but cmon he's a good actor dammit.

The look is a big part of it imo. All the Doctors before Jodie were really sharp-looking and distinctive with the exception of perhaps Peter Davison and Christopher Eccleston to an extent. There is a certain Doctor-ish look that an actor needs to have in order to pull him off. I would argue there's a similar thing with the Master. I think every actor to play him has looked the part (yes even Michelle Gomez) in that he should always be swarthy and have those piercing eyes. It's the reason I can't buy Jodie or Ncuti in the role. She just looks like one of the mums at the school gate waiting for her kids, and he looks like a gay alien with a pornstache. The haircuts and the outfits don't help them either. What I'm trying to get at is neither of them scream "The Doctor" just by looking at them. 

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Meaney has a distinctive look in my opinion.

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I respectfully disagree Yak amd I'm not backing down in thinking Colm could've pulled off the role.

[iank]

Jonny Lee Miller.

I presume we're only talking if the show was actually good and real Who. I wouldn't want any decent actors dragged into the current shitshow.