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Dr. Who Series Star Quits
TinheadNed writes "The day after the BBC confirmed there will be a second Doctor Who series next year, as well as a Christmas special, new Dr Who actor Christopher Eccleston has revealed he will not continue in the role, for fears of being typecast. Billie Piper, who plays his assistant Rose, will probably continue in her role."
Read "I Am Not Spock" by Leonard Nimoy sometime if you want to know the answer.
The bottom line is that too many people see *Spock* (or in this case, the Doctor) after a while, and not Nimoy (or Eccelston).
Nimoy played Tave (sp?) in Fiddler on the Roof, and had a number of other successful roles in film and theatre, but how many people here (or anywhere) would know that?
But show anyone a picture of them, and they don't say "Nimoy!" they say "Spock!".
Yes, it can be a help to your career (as for Nimoy, he could play the one character forever and anywhere), but a lot of serious actors want to show that they have talent and depth, and being typecast largely prevents that.
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I guess that makes sense, I think the worst case of this extreme typecasting would be Ernest P. Worrell AKA Jim Varney.
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I doubt he's afraid of being type cast. This is a negotiating tactic, plain and simple. Let it be known that you won't be around for a second run if you're not already contractually obligated to do so, and then they come at you with more money right out of the gate.
A better example is the chick who played Tasha Yar on TNG. She quit to avoid being typecast. Where is she today? I used to worship Star Trek and I can't even remember her name anymore.
Knowing that this series could re-emerge into a several series run why on earth would the BBC not have an option on this character for multiple years of the series. He is after all the NINTH Dr. Who dropped the ball, Auntie Beeb lives after all.
I've had that discussion with some other Dr.Who fans :-) Yay for nerds! :-)
;-)
I'd actually be interested in a female take on Dr.Who and/or finding out what happened to Romana in E-Space (maybe just to swoon over Lalla Ward mind you....
I was going to post the same thing, almost word for word.
While typecasting can become problem, it really is only an issue for mediocre actors. The good ones will get parts, regardless of their history. Maybe he knows something about his own skill that we don't.
Look at his career. He didn't want to be the pretty boy on "21 Jump St" or anywhere else. He quit. Now, he's considered to be a well respected actor and is very successful. If he stayed on 21, I don't think he would be where he is now. Granted, I don't think every actor can do what Johnny did. Look at Denise Crosby(Tasha Yar) of ST:TNG. She quit because she didn't want to be type casted and she hasn't done much - I don't know if that's by choice or not though.
It's sci-fi. All it takes is one good writer and he can have as many regenerations as he likes.
Don't you usually have to be recognized by the general public before it is even possible to be "typecast"?
Yup, one of my favourite bits of electronic weirdness from the 60's ..
really though, i find myself humming "ooooh-eeeeeh-oooooh" any time i see anything even remotely resembling a tardis.
; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
The Master's use of the Eye of Harmony nearly destroyed Gallifrey, doesn't strike me as something The Doctor would do :)
Also, The Master escaped death by a unexplained method in the Movie. He has also stolen a body before the in the episode "The Keeper or Traken". He also extended his life by use of some healing gas in the episode "Planet of Fire". I'm sure The Master has come up with another way to extend his life so he can be in the new series :)
There was also the Elixar of Life from the episode "The Brain of Morbius"
I'm sure they'll find a way around the 13 lives limit :)
Sad to lose Eccleston as a Doctor though, he plays the part so well.
that's the first slashdot post in ages that genuine made me laugh aout loud (and almost choke on my lunch). someone mod this up...
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It does look like the BBC have dropped the ball here on more than one level. Firstly yeah, when casting a part like The Doctor the contract should include multiple series if it proves popular[*].
Secondly, was it really necessary to confirm that the new series is in the planning before the second episode of this one has even aired?
Letting people know there's a new series before the current one finishes is a good thing, but confirming it this early seems a little bit overkill to me.
Finally they really dropped the ball by having it known that the lead actor isn't in the next series before we're even really into this one.
Surely something like this kind of announcement you leave until as late in the series as you can. All announcing it this early does is make it harder to want to get used to the current actor as you know there's be a new one next year. Not a great move, I think.
[*] Although it might simply have not occurred to them. In an interview I heard, it seems that neither Eccleston nor Watson had thought past this current series. If true, then this was possibly shortsighted on the planning front.
I guess the real problem here was that if no-one was sure that a second series was going to happen - or when it would happen - it'd be harder to get someone to commit to multiple series.
Tiggs
"120 chars should be enough for everyone..."
so how many regenerations is James Bond allowed?
(Surely this whole regeneration whizz was only dreamed up because back in the 60s viewers were unused to lead characters being played by different actors. These days regeneration is rather more strained than simply dropping a new actor into the role. Maybe it's time to let that part of DW lore slip away quickly.)
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