The lead actor in Doctor Who is a prestigious position in the TV industry, and I think two stars in the upcoming The War Between the Land and Sea spinoff show would be perfect choices to play the Time Lord. Like every other fan, I have my favorites among every actor to play the Doctor. Bringing something unique to the role while honoring the character’s legacy is essential for anyone playing the Doctor, and two actors in The War Between the Land and Sea’s cast will get the chance to demonstrate their suitability for the role I think they’d suit.
Whoever plays the Doctor has to be able to change rapidly between demeanors. While the Doctor has long been portrayed as a jovial soul by many actors, the mask often slips and reveals the trauma beneath the surface. I’ve seen some actors tread this delicate balance much more effectively than others, so it’s made me realize how rare finding someone suited for the part can be. Interestingly, I’d love to see two actors from the upcoming spinoff play the Doctor, even if their presence in The War Between the Land and Sea would complicate matters slightly.
Russell Tovey & Gugu Mbatha-Raw Would Both Be Excellent Doctors In Doctor Who
Both Doctor Who spinoff stars would be well-suited to lead the franchise
I’ve long been a fan of Tovey and Mbatha-Raw ahead of their casting in the first spinoff in Doctor Who’s Disney era. They both have the acting range to portray a carefree and lighthearted character, but they’ve also proven time and time again that they’re capable of injecting huge amounts of gravitas into a scene. In addition, they share the description of being established British actors who’ve yet to ascend to the level of being a household name. I think that level of experience, paired with the lack of viewer preconceptions, is a vital consideration when casting the Doctor.
While Tovey does have experience with more fantastical narratives, the fact he’s often cast in grounded dramas would give his Doctor a compelling aura.
While Tovey does have experience with more fantastical narratives, the fact he’s often cast in grounded dramas would give his Doctor a compelling aura that I think could be similar to Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth. However, his roles in sci-fi/superhero projects would give him an edge over some of his predecessors. Gugu Mbatha-Raw has a similar acting history to Tovey, although her role as Renslayer in Loki seasons 1 and 2 brilliantly displayed her ability to portray a layered character like the Doctor.
Doctor Who’s New Spinoff Will Give Russell Tovey & Gugu Mbatha-Raw More To Do This Time
Alonso & Tish were very minor characters
Interestingly, both Tovey and Mbatha-Raw have already appeared in Doctor Who. However, showrunner Russell T Davies has announced that neither actor will be reprising their existing characters. The first time around, Tovey and Mbatha-Raw performed well, but their overall role in Doctor Who was incredibly limited. Tovey had a lone appearance as Midshipman Alonso Frame in David Tennant’s 2007’s Christmas special, “Voyage of the Damned.” Mbatha-Raw had a slightly more prominent role as Tish Jones, appearing in four episodes – also in 2007 – playing the onscreen sister of Freema Agyeman’s Martha Jones.
This is a big change considering Tovey and Mbatha-Raw were playing side characters at best when they last appeared in Doctor Who .
Thankfully, The War Between the Land and Sea has given both actors starring roles. As a result, they’re far more likely to be at the heart of the action throughout the spinoff. This is a big change considering Tovey and Mbatha-Raw were playing side characters at best when they last appeared in Doctor Who. Giving them both the chance to shine on their return to the franchise is something that excites me greatly. Having said that, I do also kind of wish it meant the comeback of Alonso and Tish.
The War Between The Land & The Sea Actually Gives Tovey & Mbatha-Raw A Better Chance Of Playing Doctor Who
Other Doctor Who actors have appeared in the franchise plenty of times before being cast in a lead role
If Tovey or Mbatha-Raw were to be cast as the Doctor in the future, it would be their third character in the same franchise. While this may sound like the possibility of such an event happening is very slight, I think the opposite is arguably true. Doctor Who has a long history of recasting its actors as the Doctor or a companion. So, the door remains open for either actor to play the Doctor once they step away from the spinoff.
Perhaps the most silent example of a reused actor is Peter Capaldi. In total, Capaldi has three distinct characters in the Doctor Who universe. After debuting in the Pompeii episode of the main show, Capaldi went on to play John Frobisher in Torchwood, appearing throughout the third season of the Doctor Who spinoff. It was only after both roles that Capaldi was cast as the Twelfth Doctor. So, Tovey and Mbatha-Raw’s ties to the Doctor Who franchise could make their post-The War Between the Land and Sea lives more filled with chances to play the Doctor.