50 Actors Who Could Play the Next Doctor on Doctor Who
By Lacy Baugher
A Season 8 promotional photo of the Doctor’s TARDIS. (Photo: BBC)
With Peter Capaldi’s last season on Doctor Who about to begin, we take a look at 50 talented actors and actresses who could replace him in the TARDIS.
Season 10 of Doctor Who begins on Saturday, April 15. This is a big deal for a bunch of reasons. Not the least of which being that it’s been over a year since a new season of Who aired. (The one-off holiday special “The Return of Doctor Mysterio” – while surprisingly fun – does not count. Not really.)
New episodes are always a reason to celebrate. But the other big thing? Season 10 will be Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi’s last in the TARDIS. This makes for a kind of strange feeling. The premiere marks both a beginning and a kind of ending. We’re officially counting down to a regeneration now, after all.
Capaldi won’t officially hand over his sonic screwdriver until the 2017 Christmas special. (We think.) Which, technically is thirteen episodes from now. But that doesn’t matter so much. Speculation is already rampant about who might replace him as the Doctor. And there’s no sign that this chatter will dissipate as the season goes on.
But who might play the Thirteenth Doctor? This is a question with many potential answers. Many fans want to see Doctor Who make a more progressive casting decision here, and tap a woman or a person of color (or both!) for the role. And after 53 years and twelve white men playing the Doctor, it certainly feels like time for such a shift. But rumor has it that the BBC really wants to cast someone younger than outgoing Doctor Capaldi (who, for the record, is only 58), as part of a return to the more ratings-friendly status quo of the David Tennant or Matt Smith eras. It’s unclear which particular path the corporation – and incoming showrunner Chris Chibnall – will choose. But there are certainly lots of options when it comes to talented actors capable of taking on this role.
Here are 50 incredible actors and actresses who could play Doctor Who’s next Doctor. From seasoned performers to exciting newcomers, we have a little bit of everything here.