It was nice to dream for a moment
After news broke recently that Hugh Grant was in talks to play the famed time traveler in Doctor Who, the man himself has been forced to set the record straight.
On March 19, The Mirror reported that Four Weddings and a Funeral star Hugh Grant, 61, was in talks to become the next Doctor after current Time Lord Jodi Whittaker hands over her keys to the Tardis. The quote was attributed to an anonymous source that the publication claimed to be a BBC insider.
As they went on to explain, this mystery insider suggested that returning showrunner Russell T Davies hoped Grant would “Bring a fresh feel to the role.”
However it turns out those conversations never happened.
Posting The Guardian‘s article, his face plastered across the link, Grant wrote: “Nothing against Dr W but I’m not. No idea where the story came from.”
Nothing against Dr W but I’m not. No idea where the story came from. https://t.co/g1PG4VsqYN
— Hugh Grant (@HackedOffHugh) March 21, 2022
While this could be Grant attempting to dissuade rumours only to inevitably appear next season, the nation has taken the actor at his word. After all, he did once play the Prime Minister – and they never lie.
This isn’t the first time Grant has found himself popping up in potential Doctor Who casting news. Back in 2007, Grant told SyFy that he was approached for the show’s revival back in 2005. While it’s hard to imagine Doctor Who without Christopher Eccleston’s iconic revival, Grant’s Time Lord would’ve surely dazzled.
“I was offered the role of the Doctor a few years back and was highly flattered. It’s only when you see it on screen that you think, ‘Damn, that was good, why did I say no?'” he said.
Much like fan-casting for blockbusters like James Bond and the Marvel franchise, the internet has been buzzing with opinions on who should take up the mantle.
Top picks seemingly include T’Nia Miller, who has already appeared in the series as another Time Lord, musician Olly Alexander who recently stunned in aids drama It’s a Sin, and Dracula star Lydia West.
Fan site Doctor Who TV lists many other actors in the running, including Michaela Coel, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jodie Comer, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Sheen and Richard Ayoade.
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