10 Actors Who Could Replace Jodie Whittaker As Doctor Who

What’s next for Doctor Who? Or more to the point, who’s next? While Jodie Whittaker has given a fine performance as the time-traveling renegade, news has emerged that the actress is reportedly leaving after season 13.

As to who will join the lineup of actors who have already played the Doctor, fans have no idea. Still, everyone is already speculating as to who the replacement might be, and Doctor Who forums across the galaxy are riddled with suggestions. Here are some possible contenders.

10 Tilda Swinton

It’s difficult to say how old the Doctor is, as the intrepid Time Lord has seemingly had more regenerations than fans previously thought. Fans know that the 12th Doctor was between age 2,000 and 3,000, and he was imprisoned for billions of years during the episode “Heavens Sent,” so it stands to reason that the Doctor is pretty ancient. So, who better than to play the Doctor than the Ancient One herself, Tilda Swinton?

This is, of course, alluding to Swinton’s role as the Ancient One in the MCU, as it is her ability to embody this character’s qualities so well that might make her the perfect fit for the Doctor. Being strong, mysterious, and infinitely wise, there are clear similarities to the Time Lord. It could also be said that these are qualities that embody Swinton herself, so she is a fine candidate for the next regeneration.

9 Whoopi Goldberg

Goldberg wants to be the first American Doctor Who, so why not give her a chance? Yes, she is a bit of a leftfield candidate for the part, but as a long-time fan of the show, she will obviously have a good understanding of what makes the Doctor tick.

Goldberg has already proven her ability to act within a sci-fi setting, as she had a recurring role in Star Trek: The Next Generation. She is also very adept at physical humor, which, if Patrick Troughton and Matt Smith are anything to go by, is a very Doctorish trait. So, perhaps she isn’t that much of a leftfield choice, after all.

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8 Olivia Colman

Long time fans of the show will know that Colman has already appeared in Doctor Who. She made a brief appearance in Matt Smith’s debut story, though that shouldn’t rule out her chances for the part of the Time Lord. Both Colin Baker and Peter Capaldi had minor roles in the series before becoming the Doctor themselves, so there is no reason why Colman shouldn’t be considered.

The actress, like Jodie Whittaker, starred in the British drama series, Broadchurch. Current Doctor Who showrunner, Chris Chibnall, was involved in the production of that acclaimed show, so it might be that he hands the keys of the Tardis to another actress he has worked with before. Within her roles, Colman has swung from charming and funny to stern and commanding, which are, of course, the shared attributes of the Doctor.

7 Hugh Laurie

Hugh Laurie is a tremendously funny actor, and many of his character roles have bordered on the eccentric too, making him a great fit for the role. As portrayed by William Hartnell, Colin Baker, and Peter Capaldi, there is also an air of arrogance about the Time Lord, which is a quality Laurie has shown before in House, where he played that other famous doctor.

As many of the Doctor’s companions have discovered, the Time Lord can swing from warm and funny to cold and aloof within the space of a few minutes. Laurie’s roles have shown that he can handle this emotional range with ease, and thanks to his roles in Avenue 5 and The Personal History of David Copperfield, it is clear that he can also show the befuddled side of the Doctor too.

6 Tom Hiddleston

Thanks to the role of Loki in the MCU, Hiddleston’s career has sky-rocketed over the last few years. And it’s the mischief he has shown when portraying that famous Norse God that might make him the natural choice for the Doctor’s next regeneration. Patrick Troughton, Tom Baker, and Sylvester McCoy all shared the mischievous wit and charm that are prevalent in the Marvel trickster, so the actor could easily translate this persona into the role.

Of course, if Hiddleston doesn’t get to play the part of the Doctor, he would be perfect for the role of The Master. Here is another character that is both charming and cunning, and with Loki’s mischievous glimmer in his eye, Hiddleston could fit those villainous shoes well.

5 Jo Martin

Fans have already been introduced to this potential Jodie Whittaker replacement, as she was the first sign that there were more incarnations of the Doctor than was originally thought. It might be that her presence in an early Whittaker episode was a forerunner of things to come, so it would be of little surprise if she was the next regeneration in the series 13 finale.

However, as logical as it might be to introduce us to Jo Martin’s Doctor all over again, it might be that it won’t happen. Her appearance in the show was apparently an unplanned, last-minute twist, so it might be that Chris Chibnall has no further plans for her in the role.

4 Michaela Coel

According to one UK website, Michaela Coel is the most likely’ actor to replace Jodie Whittaker as the Time Lord. In fact, many are placing bets on her becoming the next Doctor, and while this doesn’t evidence that she will be the replacement, it is proof that fans are keen for her to play the part.

Coel has denied her attachment to the part, however, and in a tweet, she said: “I’m just tweeting for the second time that I am not Doctor Who. Don’t place bets on it and lose cash.” However, this Tweet seems to now be deleted and this could be her way of throwing people off the scent, which is something the Time Lord has a canny knack of doing too!

3 Benedict Cumberbatch

A few years ago, there were a number of actors considered for the role of Doctor Strange, but Cumberbatch outmatched them all. Could he do the same again with Doctor Who? He certainly has what it takes to play the role, as he could utilize the mystery and charisma of Doctor Strange and the aloofness and eccentricity of Sherlock Holmes.

Of course, Cumberbatch may be too busy to enter the universe of Doctor Who. He is still contracted to play the role of Doctor Strange in the MCU and he has a number of movies outside Marvel in the works, so the chances of him playing the role of the Doctor could be slim.

2 Bill Nighy

Bill Nighy has been in Doctor Who before, in the Matt Smith episode, “Vincent And The Doctor.” He is also one of several actors who were almost cast as Doctor Who in the past. The role of the Doctor could come “with too much baggage” he once said, but it might be that he changes his mind if asked again.

He could certainly carry off the part of the Doctor with aplomb. A return to an older-looking Doctor would be refreshing, as with the exception of Peter Capaldi, most regenerations have been decidedly youthful in recent years. He would bring a sense of gravitas to the part too, perhaps as a more kindly grandfather figure, with a hint of William Hartnell’s grumpiness.

1 Ben Whishaw

Ben Whishaw was a favorite to take over from Peter Capaldi, so could he still be in for the chance this time around? Only time will tell, but as the actor has revived two British cultural icons in the past – Q and Paddington – he might be able to reinvent the role of the Doctor for a new audience.

Whishaw certainly seems like an inspired choice, and he could bring the smarts and eccentricities of Q to the role. He could also hide jelly babies under his hat in the same way that Paddington hid his sandwiches. But he, like the other actors on this list, could be far removed from who the next Doctor will be. Without the keys to the Tardis, fans can still only speculate at this stage.

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