Entertainment
‘Doctor Who’ Officially Ruled Out A Legendary Cast Member’s Return
Over 60 years, Doctor Who has carved out its place in science fiction history. Part of that longevity comes from the concept of “regeneration,” where the Doctor periodically changes into a new form. This means each actor who steps into the Doctor’s shoes can put their own definitive take on the character…and even come back to the series if they want to. Fan-favorite Doctors, including David Tennant, and icons like Tom Baker have returned to the franchise over the years. If one Doctor Who alum has his way, he won’t be making an on-screen return any time soon.
Michael Troughton, who is the son of Patrick Troughton — the second person to ever play the Doctor — was recently asked whether he’d ever portray the Second Doctor on screen in an interview with the Radio Times. Troughton immediately shot down the idea, as he felt like his time with the character was better spent behind the screen:
“No, I don’t think so. I love playing the role for audio, but no. The Doctor goes on, and I don’t think we want to see me playing it… I don’t think I’d consider it.”
Troughton previously voiced the Second Doctor in a series of audio adventures for Big Finnish, following in the footsteps of his father and other Doctor Who alums who’ve returned to the role. His comments about not playing the Second Doctor on-screen serve as a reminder that Doctor Who isin the midst of its next big transformation and needs a fresh start rather than looking back to the past.
Michael Troughton Is Right — ‘Doctor Who’ Should Continue To Evolve
Right now, Doctor Who is at a crossroads. BBC is currently putting the series out to competitive tender following the dissolution of a streaming deal with Disney+. That means that whoever takes up producing reigns has the difficult task of delivering an entirely new approach that will draw in new viewers and longtime fans alike. It’s a tall order, but a necessary one. The Disney+ era had a less than favorable reception and ended on the strangest cliffhanger, so it’s better to follow Michael Troughton’s advice and wipe the slate clean.
There’s also another thing that Troughton didn’t touch upon in his review, and that’s the fact that if he did come back as the Second Doctor, most people wouldn’t know the significance of the role. Most Doctor Who fans came into the series via the 2005 reboot, and are more familiar with David Tennant or Matt Smith than the classic Doctors. Whoever picks up Doctor Who next is probably going to go for an approach that still keeps all the classic elements of the series intact, but pushes them forward into a modern context. As Troughton so eloquently put it, the Doctor goes on.
Michael Troughton Previously Appeared on ‘Doctor Who’ in a Different Role
In addition to voicing the Second Doctor, Michael Troughton did show back up on Doctor Who, albeit in an entirely different role. During the 2014 special “Last Christmas,” Troughton plays the role of Albert Smithe, a professor heading an expedition into the Arctic that’s sabotaged by crab-like creatures who attack him and his crew in their dreams. Thanks to the intervention of Peter Capaldi‘s Tweltfth Doctor, the crew is saved alongside his frequent companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman). “Last Christmas” turned out to be a major success, earning rave reviews and high ratings.
Ironically, this isn’t the first time that a Troughton has taken on a unique role in the world of Doctor Who. Michael Troughton’s older brother, David Troughton, previously appeared in the original series as well as the modern era, particularly the chilling episode “Midnight”. Their involvement is proof that Doctor Who can touch upon its legacy in ways that don’t involve bringing back past Doctors. While the future of Doctor Who might be hazy, it will definitely feel fresh.
- Release Date
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2024 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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BBC One
- Directors
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Alex Pillai, Peter Hoar, Ben Chessell, Julie Anne Robinson, Jamie Donoughue, Amanda Brotchie, Dylan Holmes Williams
- Writers
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Steven Moffat, Pete McTighe, Kate Herron, Inua Ellams, Juno Dawson
- Franchise(s)
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Doctor Who / Whoniverse
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