Things have been very hush on the Doctor Who set concerning events and revelations that are going to occur in season 6, starring Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and Matt Smith as the 11th incarnation of the Doctor. People are wondering what the real secret is behind the Silents and the true identity of River Song. And what’s the full story behind the death of a certain character? But on IMDB.com, a potentially major event is hinted at via the cast listings.
If you don’t wish to be spoiled (possibly), do not continue.
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For the finale episode of Season 6, IMDB.com lists David Tennant (the 10th Doctor) and Peter Davison (the 5th Doctor) among the cast. And each of them is listed as “The Doctor.”
During the Classic Series of Doctor Who, there were three broadcast adventures where time and space were so threatened that the Doctor had to team-up with earlier incarnations of himself. Doctors 2 and 3 met and worked together in “The Three Doctors”, aided by advice from the 1st Doctor. And in “The Five Doctors” TV Special (which actually aired in the US before it was broadcast in the UK), the first three Doctors joined the 5th incarnation for an adventure on Gallifrey, joined by many old companions.
This tradition has continued in the Big Finish audio plays. And Steven Moffat wrote a mini-episode for Children in Need charity entitled “Time Crash” wherein a malfunction in the Doctor’s ship allowed David Tennant’s Doctor to meet Peter Davison’s vegetable-wearing incarnation.
So is this what’s going to happen at the end of season 6? Or perhaps the Doctor will recall events of his past and we’ll see the 10th and 5th Doctor in flashback scenes. Is this building up to an even bigger team-up for the 50th anniversary in 2013? After all, “The Three Doctors” aired as a 10th anniversay special, “The Five Doctors” aired as a 20th anniversary special, and the audio play Zagreus (which teamed up the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Doctors) was released to the public on the 40th anniversary. If Tennant and Davison are showing up this season, can other old Doctors be far behind for the big celebration of 2013? Might we see Christopher Eccleston don his old leather jacket? Perhaps Paul McGann can finally have another on-screen appearance? Matt Smith’s adventures have indeed had recurring reminders of the previous incarnations.
Time will tell.
June 1st, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Well, Moffat has been big on keeping secrets (and bitching if things leak out), but I just don’t know about this one. Particularly since IMDb is involved.
I distinctly recall the early cast list for one Star Trek: Nemesis as it began filming years ago, and some git had gone and basically put anybody who ever appeared in TNG in the cast reprising roles.
As for Eccleston, from the sound of things he regrets ever taking the role.
June 1st, 2011 at 5:21 pm
It’s complete horseshit.
However, speculation (gossip) on DW forums about the whys and wherefores of Eccleston’s departure, and the on-set drama(s) leading up to it, is fascinating reading.
Recurring allegations:
1. He thought the scripts sucked and was vocal about it.
2. Banged Billy Piper and/or hated Billy Piper.
3. Came to blows with director Keith Boak after a stunt gone wrong nearly killed someone.
June 1st, 2011 at 5:41 pm
This missed the 30th anniversary special-Dimensions in Time- which featured the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Doctors…
June 1st, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Christopher Eccleston signed up for a 1 year tour as the Doctor from the beginning, so him leaving was planned from day 1. He’s also said he would not go back (on Graham Norton’s BBC Radio 2 show, date April 30th, 2011′s ) because he doesn’t like to look backwards.
June 2nd, 2011 at 6:04 pm
“Christopher Eccleston signed up for a 1 year tour as the Doctor from the beginning . . .”
Spin. He implied in interviews that he’d be around longer, and the circumstances surrounding the regeneration’s hurried inclusion and the oddball way it was filmed and stitched together without Tennant even being there pretty much confirm that it wasn’t even remotely planned for.
June 2nd, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Which is not to say that he didn’t sign a one-year contract — no one was expecting NuWho to be the runaway hit it became — but it was with the assumption that he’d be returning, at least based on what I’ve read.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Honestly, Eccleston is still my favorite Doctor. I wish he would come back and put some masculinity back into the role.
November 23rd, 2011 at 8:35 pm
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December 13th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
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March 4th, 2012 at 7:10 am
What would be perfect would be the complete return of the more clever, adventuresome and intuitive #10 Doctor, David Tennant, and the swan song of the more bumbling and somewhat awkward #11 played by Matt Smith. Kudos to that kind of plot.