What’s next for Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi after he departs the TARDIS this Christmas? Perhaps a reunion with an old friend: Veep creator Armando Iannucci.
Peter Capaldi will officially depart from Doctor Who at the end of this year. But no one’s sure exactly what his post-TARDIS life will look like. He hasn’t said much about it, and seems fairly content to enjoy his final days as everyone’s favorite Time Lord. (And probably get some sleep.) However, rumor has it that his future may include a reunion an old friend: Veep creator Armando Iannucci.
Before he became the Doctor, Capaldi was best known for his role on Iannucci’s British political comedy The Thick of It. He played Malcom Tucker, a foul-mouthed, aggressive, possibly psychotic government communications official who dropped F bombs the way most people breathe.
The BBC show eventually led to a feature film sequel called In the Loop, which brought Malcolm and company to America. And all of this eventually formed the blueprint that that evolved into Veep. (The HBO series isn’t quite as dark or crass as the BBC version. But you can tell that they both originate from a similar framework.)
While at San Diego Comic Con, TV Guide asked the outgoing Twelfth Doctor whether he might reprise his role as Malcolm for The Thick of It’s American cousin. Capaldi didn’t sound completely averse to the idea, but he mostly joked about the fun in being able to swear again. Not much chance to do that as the Doctor, after all.
However, he did hint that his post-TARDIS life could involve a reunion of some sort between himself and the Veep creator.
"“I think I’m going to be working with Armando next year,” the actor teased."
This is, of course, the vaguest possible vague statement. That could literally mean anything. But that sentence is enough to make most of us pretty excited.
A rumor from a couple of years ago suggested Capaldi might direct an episode or two of Veep at some point. Or, yes, possibly bring Malcolm to the HBO series for a guest stint. The actor basically confirmed back in 2015 that he’d been asked to do so, but said he didn’t have time because of his Doctor Who schedule. Well…he’s about to have a lot more free time, right? Unfortunately, Iannucci isn’t the showrunner of Veep anymore. He stepped down from that role after Season 4, so it’s unlikely that such an awesome crossover will ever happen now.
But, who knows? Maybe we’ll get insanely lucky and the duo will re-team to bring back The Thick of it properly. Given the current global political climate, wouldn’t it be great to see Malcolm one more time? Though who knows whether the series would even still feel relevant, what with the outlandish things our actual administration says and does daily. We might be past the point of satire.
But wouldn’t you love to get Malcolm’s read on our current President? Or on U.K. Prime Minister Teresa May? Or Brexit? Heck, on anything at all, for that matter. (Please someone make more of The Thick of It, is what I am saying. Malcolm Tucker is 100 percent the man we need right now.)
In the end, perhaps Capaldi and Iannucci will join forces for an entirely new project. Iannucci’s latest film Death of Stalin, is set to hit theaters this fall. And Capaldi will reprise his role as cranky neighbor Mr. Curry for Paddington 2. But other than that…neither of them has much on their schedule. Anything could happen!
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At any rate, here’s hoping that, whatever they end up making together, Capaldi gets to swear in it. At least a little bit.