(UTV | UNITED KINGDOM) – Hugh Grant is rumored to be the next incarnation of The Doctor for the refresh of The BBC’s “Doctor Who” according to some sources.
The outlet indicates this is just one step in a grander Marvel-style ‘Whoniverse’ plan to revitalize the series after current actress Jodie Whittaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall exit later this year.
Showrunner Russell T. Davies, who revived the series in 2005 and led it through the Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant eras, is returning as showrunner in time for its 60th anniversary in 2023.
Davies previously worked with Grant on the acclaimed “A Very English Scandal” mini-series, and actually offered Grant the role of The Doctor back in 2005 when he first revived the series.
Sources for the outlet say “conversations are in progress” regarding Grant’s involvement.
Davies also reportedly wants to expand the franchise with “Marvel-like product, building franchises around the Doctor and other key characters in his many lives”. Davies tried it before with spin-offs including the more adult “Torchwood” and the kid-skewing “The Sarah Jane Adventures”.
This time though he’s backed not only by BBC Worldwide commercial but also Sony Pictures Television who in October last year bought a majority stake in the Bad Wolf production company (“His Dark Materials”, “The Night Of”) and Wolf Studios Wales where the series is filmed.
Within a month of that purchase, a new subsidiary called Whoniverse1 Ltd was created which has fueled this speculation of Davies’ larger plans.
If Grant is cast, it would actually mark his second time as The Doctor. The actor played him in a Comic Relief special in 1999 alongside Rowan Atkinson, Richard E. Grant, Jim Broadbent and Joanna Lumley who all played other incarnations.