10 Doctor Who Actors Who Almost Played Different Characters

9. Ian McKellen

Remember when Sir Ian McKellen guest starred in Doctor Who? No? Well, you're not the only one! To say that this true veteran of the stage and screen was tragically wasted as the voice of the sinister Snowmen in the 2012 Christmas Special would be the understatement of the century. As spine chilling as the formidable frozen foes ultimately were, the show really should've made the most of Ian's involvement by, you know, actually using him. And guess what? He very nearly was. Not in this festive escapade, though, but in Series 4's acclaimed Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead two-parter. The actor was originally offered the role of Doctor Moon in the episodes but it eventually went to Colin Salmon instead (after Sir Michael Gambon, who would later guest star as Kazran Sardick in another classic festive escapade, A Christmas Carol, also turned it down). Not to take anything away from Colin's performance, but Ian would've certainly added a heightened sense of prestige to the occasion. He's Gandalf, for God's sake. How could he not be amazing?! Still, the fact he's only voiced a character means that there's still a very good chance he'll appear on screen at some point in the foreseeable, and preferably as a fully fledged villain. The Doctor going head to head with an industry icon such as Ian would certainly be an almighty sight to behold.