A scene from "Doctor Who." (BBC)
The long-running British time travel TV series “Doctor Who” has seen nearly a dozen actors take on the titular role since the 1960s, but the casting the 11th and latest Doctor — Matt Smith — was surprisingly simple, the show’s producers told a capacity crowd of Comic-Con attendees Sunday afternoon, many of whom had waited in a line that wrapped around the Convention Center and along the waterfront.
“It was the easiest casting decision out of any I’ve been involved in, because it was so bloody obvious from the moment he walked in to the room,” executive producer Piers Wenger said. “The day after we’d met Matt for the second time, [showrunner Steven Moffat] sent me an e-mail that just said, “It’s him. Let’s face this. It’s always been him.”
Wenger, producer Beth Willis and writer Toby Whithouse joined Smith and Karen Gillan, who plays the Doctor’s traveling companion Amy Pond, onstage Sunday afternoon to answer questions from fans. The Hall H crowd of 6,500 included numerous Dalek, Tardis and Weeping Angel costumes, as well as various incarnations of the Doctor and his companions, and fans raised their sonic screwdrivers — the Doctor’s go-to gadget — in the air appreciatively before and during the panel.
“It’s really exciting for us to see that it’s growing in America, and that it’s being more widely received,” Smith said. “It’s kind of wonderful to be part of a legacy in ‘Doctor Who’ and to be part of something that has such history. It’s remarkable.”
Smith and Gillan talked about the current season, saying they were kept in the dark about many of the surprises and cliffhangers until the last moment. They also debuted a trailer (see above) for the upcoming episodes this season, which resumes Aug. 27 on BBC America, as well as some footage of an upcoming episode written by Whithouse, who said his lifelong fandom serves as research for his writing job on the show now.
“Writing good television is incredibly exhausting and hard and time-consuming, but it’s something that we love,” Whithouse said. “We genuinely love this show, and our passion and love and enthusiasm for the show — it’s really difficult because sometimes you feel as if you’re slightly in a vacuum. So coming to events like this and realizing that the audience feels just as enthusiastic and passionate about it is wonderful.”
"Doctor Who" (BBC)
Wenger said Smith did “a brilliant job coming in a redefining a role” on the heels of David Tennant’s widely beloved performance, and that his onscreen character — who is smart, exuberant, impulsive and funny — echoes his real-life personality.
“Matt is the Doctor,” Wenger said. “I mean, what you see on screen is pretty bloody close to how he is in real life, apart from maybe he’s a bit less competent in real life.”
Willis said even the Doctor’s costume was influenced by Smith, who argued for his own tweed jacket and bow tie, despite initial groans from the producers. Now, the costume is his trademark, and “Bow ties are cool” is his catchphrase.
“I wish I was as cool as him,” Smith said. “As an actor, that’s what you do. You spend time with a character in quite an interesting way, and to do it with a man like him, he’s such a benchmark for everything, for how to live your life. He’s such a maverick, and he always makes choices independently for himself.”
Matt Smith plays the Doctor in "Doctor Who." (BBC)
The panelists praised performances by previous Doctors, including Tom Baker, but Wenger noted that Smith is the first to be nominated for a BAFTA for the role.
“What’s so wonderful about this show is that everyone has their Doctor,” Smith said. “And so hopefully in like 20 years’ time, there’ll be 5-year-olds, and 25, going, ‘Yeah, Matt Smith is my Doctor, and Amy Pond my companion.’ “
– Noelene Clark
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Matt Smith's definitely doing a fab job in the role but Tennant, to me, seems to have the been one born to be The Doctor and he still gets my vote as top doc. I think I could be much more on board with Smith's Doctor without Amy Pond. her character brings down the whole show for me.
I always had a crush on David so I can hardly be objective but Matt Smith has nothing you could half the way call charisma.
And if the head writer still got time to run other shows (like Sherlock) it's no surprise most of the recent episodes were total crap – except for The Doctor's Wife. But that wasn't Moffat's merit.
I have been a fan since growing up watching the show in the 70′s when I lived in Australia. To me the combination of Matt Smith and Karen Gillian is perfect. The two are up there at the top (along with Dave Tennant and Billie Piper) and Tom Baker. However, the chemistry between Karen and Matt far surpasses any of the past Doctor and assistant pairings in the past. So happy with how the show has progressed and gotten batter in the past few decades…
It’s a shame the Tennant fangirls have to invade EVERY discussion on Doctor Who nowadays. The ethos of the show is change, stretching all the way back to 1966 when Troughton took over from Hartnell. As a viewer of the show for 30 years I can honestly say that the past 2 series have been the strongest since season 14 with Tom Baker. Moffat has curbed the excesses of the RTD era and with Matt Smith we once again have a Time Lord who is an alien, and not somebody you might bump into down the pub.
Long may Moffat and Smith reign.
where is darth nilius?
He's no Christopher Eccleston, but he's aliright. The BBC broke with its own self-imposed rule that no current Doctor Who would ever attend any conventions while playing the role when they decided to send Smith to Comic Con. That speaks volumes for how much support there is for the show with him in the role. Now, if only they could eliminate the annoying Professor River Song. Her "sweeties" and "spoilers" have taken on the qualities of fingernails on chalkboard.
I'm still in love with Ecclesston's Doctor and that Rose- best pair ever on Doctor Who.
Troughton was the Doctor of my childhood, and Tennant is the Doctor of my adulthood. Having said that, I find Matt Smith's portrayal compelling in many ways, and I enjoy the show as much as ever. I prefer Rory to Amy (and would love more multiple companions in future and more same-sex or non-romantic potential companions), but the whole show gels well.
Different temperaments like different Doctors, but THE DOCTOR as a character is alien and wonderful in every regeneration
Have to admit that I stopped watching after the first season with Smith. I tried to give it a go, but while Smith eventually did get better, I’m not a fan of Amy Pond. Plus, in general, the storylines weren’t that great. A lot of that first new season seemed to be repeats of previous plots. The humor forced. Not as witty as other episodes. I’m not still clamoring for Tennant…I realize his reign had to end…but I just can’t get into this new Doctor or his adventures.
“What’s so wonderful about this show is that everyone has their Doctor,” Smith said. “And so hopefully in like 20 years’ time, there’ll be 5-year-olds, and 25, going, ‘Yeah, Matt Smith is my Doctor, and Amy Pond my companion.’ “
I wouldn't mind Amy Pond being MY companion
Matt Smith is and always will be a very poor Doctor – He is too young and is not a strong enough actor for the position. His face looks like two badly parked cars and he cannot pull off the wise 900+ year old Alien. Moffat may have curbed the excesses of RTD but the stories have become tedious and too child like – it's Sylvestor McCoy all over again! And what about the 'telly tubby' dales – what an ass!!!! Iam a life long Who fan and will tune back in when Matt goes.
The relationships made in this show are all very different and deep. Why, they're the best part of the show! It is near impossible to judge nor fair to impose who or what is best. Because of the connection to the show, viewers continue to watch, never mind who made that possible.