In case you’ve been living underground for the past few years, you might be aware that Doctor Who will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In those 50 years, the show has been a massive hit here in the UK, as well as achieving cult status across the world. But while the show is popular, it could very much be more successful if it had a wider fan base in the States.
Granted, the show does have its selection of famous fans including the iconic film director Steven Spielberg and ER star Noah Wyle. Whether Hollywood have their eyes on the franchise is up for speculation, but for your reading pleasure, here is a list of 10 potential Hollywood actors who would be ideal choices to play the iconic Time Lord.
10. George Clooney
Why ? Because he’s George Clooney, that’s why. One of the most attractive and iconic of Hollywood film stars in recent memory, and taking on the role of The Doctor would be nothing short of a must-see. However, one must speculate and debate as to what type of personality his Doctor would inhabit.
Clooney could be capable of both serious and comedic, given that he has done serious films such as The American & The Ides Of Marsh, as well as the wacky and slapstick in Burn After Reading. It would be intriguing to watch and see what type of Time Lord Clooney could create, and whether he could redefine the role for new audiences to embrace. It would be interesting to watch, that’s for sure.
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12 Comments
I know that I am going to catch so much flack for this, but I think that Hugh Jackman would be awesome as the Doctor.
I disagree, it seems to me that unless it’s Wolverine Mr Jackman just isn’t that great of an actor
Very few of the most memorable movie stars could truly be classified as “actors”.
George Clooney for instance usually seems to be playing “George Clooney” in the movies I have seen him in.
Hugh Jackman is immensely entertaining in whatever he appears in. Of course this is all subjective.
I am not sure an American could portray what has always been a British character. The list of actors was wonderful ! They all have the talent but none have the cultural mind set or behavior that is unique to British citizens. If an American were to be picked , however, I would go with Johnny Depp. He is a great mix of crazy and seriousness.he would also be a heart throb like David Terent ,.
While I understand your list is speculative, this kinda illustrates why “Doctor Who” will NEVER succeed as an American production: So much about it was intrinsically “British”. So much was created on the fly, and flies in the face of “American” TV conventions. Even the recent series had to add the awful “My Name is Amy Pond” prologue to the theme to make it seem palatable to American TV. You’ve a very good selection of actors, but drop them into any “Doctor Who” from “City of Death” to “The Impossible Astronaut” (The latter even SET in America) and they just don’t fit.
As an American, I have to disagree with the idea that “Dr Who” will never succeed in America. There are many fans in the states. Not because it’s British, but because it reflects human nature and emotions that are universal. As for the Amy Pond prologue….we hate it too. Please, don’t blame us.
I’m an American and a huge fan of the show, and even I have issues with thinking of an American-reboot of Doctor Who. In fact, after seeing what happened with Being Human and Sherlock Holmes in America, I’m downright terrified of seeing an American Doctor Who. Though, I really would think that Daniel Radcliffe as the twelfth Doctor would absolutely amazing though; he is a terrific actor.
Johnny Depp? Seriously? The guy who made both the Willy Wonka and Barnabas Collins remakes unwatchable? Why not Nicholas Cage, if you’re looking for someone completely inappropriate to destroy the franchise forever?
Out of all 10 listed I’d say Daniel Radcliff. To be known as Harry Potter and Dr. Who in one lifetime would be something on his res, but I think he would make an interesting DR.W. I agree that Hugh Jackman would give it an interesting spin. But if I was the one to chose, it would be Benedict Cumberbatch. Has anyone ever seen Sherlock!, he was amazing and he is in the new StarTrek coming out this summer, bad guy this time. But who-ever they cast, I hope it is a Brit, the show is British and it should stay that way. Try to Americanize it and we will just muck it up. And anyone who is reading this, please, please not Clooney or Depp; Depp has done enough characters and does anyone remember Clooney as Batman, horrible.
There are two people that I would definetly include in this list. High Profile, and Top notch actors. Ewan McGregor and Robert Downey Jr. No doubt that either of these guys would create an ecclectic and memorable doctor. Both have amazing dramatic ability, but (downey especially) the cockiness and sheer genius would shine through. Whereas McGregor would bring out a dinamic element of human nature and scarcasm. Either would be fantastic choices.
uh, Benedict Cumberbatch???? However, right now he is so iconically Sherlock Holmes that I don’t think it will happen. sigh.
Two words for the PERFECT standalone AKA reboot casting, but starting with a very similar character feel to the very first Doctor with extra dash of haughty arrogance of the 6th ( with perhaps a fluid arc into Pertwee/Davison/McCoy territory ) :
Morgan Freeman
Yes, a wizened, curmudgeonly schoolmaster type. Freeman is the dark skinned “American” version of Hartnell’s original mysterious, broody and later coy Timelord.