Karen Gillan, who played Amy Pond in Doctor Who, is already on board for the Ncuti Gatwa era. After David Tennant returns for his second stint as the Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa will take up the role for the foreseeable future. Alongside him, Russell T. Davies will enjoy the beginning of his second run on Doctor Who. Gatwa previously starred in Sex Education and The Last Letter From Your Lover and will also appear as Ken in Barbie. As The Doctor, Gatwa will take on a very different role and jump head-first into the many wonderful worlds of science fiction.
In an interview with RadioTimes.com, Gillan revealed that Gatwa will be changing everything for Doctor Who, and she thinks the change is a good thing. Check out Gillan’s quote below:
“My first reaction to both of them being cast was excitement. I sort of feel like they’re going to inject a whole new lease of life – like it really got my attention. When I saw both of them, I was like, ‘OK, I’m ready to jump into this now.’ And it’s just exciting, and it’s new, and he’s clearly brilliant because I’ve seen him in other things. So I think it’s a really good piece of casting.”
How Ncuti Gatwa’s Run Will Change Doctor Who
While there is no current indication that Gillan will appear again, Gatwa’s era will change Doctor Who by going back to its roots after decreasing ratings for series 13. The Doctor Who series 14 cast will include both old and new characters, including Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday and Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart, while Catherine Tate will appear as Donna Noble for the 60th-anniversary special. It’s a return to form that appears to be tying Gatwa to both classic Doctor Who and post-revival Doctor Who.
Russell T. Davies has indicated that his Doctor Who return is large because the BBC struck a deal with Disney+, allowing a much greater budget for the upcoming season. The larger budget and simpler distribution access can give Doctor Who better production quality, allowing for increasingly complex stories. In a show revolving around a near-immortal alien who can travel through space and time, that budget increase is essential.
There is also an intent to have several Doctor Who spin-off shows. The shows can give Gatwa even more opportunities to shine as a central force in the Doctor Who universe, even when he isn’t present. Gatwa has enough charisma and natural shine as an actor to create an intimidating presence despite not being on-screen, which is exactly what this new era of Doctor Who needs. Thus, Gillan shares the same excitement for the show’s future.
Source: RadioTimes.com
