After Matt Smith announced his departure from the popular BBC show, there was much speculation on who would take on the role of The Doctor. Speculation suggested the new Doctor would break the mold, maybe the new Doctor would be minority or a woman. Instead, the role went to another white male: Peter Capaldi.
“It’s an incendiary combination: one of the most talented actors of his generation is about to play the best part on television,” Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat said when Capaldi was announced. “Peter Capaldi is in the TARDIS!”
As to why the new Doctor isn’t a woman? “I didn’t feel enough people wanted it,” said Moffat, according to The Telegraph. “Oddly enough, most people who said they were dead against it — and I know I’ll get into trouble for saying this — were women, saying, ‘No, no, don’t make him a woman.'”
One of the show’s writers, Neil Gaiman, reveals on his blog, “I know one black actor who was already offered the part of the Doctor, and who turned it down.” On his blog, Gaiman said it wasn’t time for a woman to take on the role, but he thinks it was a missed opportunity to not cast a non-white actor.
“Does that mean I’m disappointed by Peter? No, just excited to see what kind of Doctor he makes,” he wrote.
Doctor Who 50th anniversary special airs on Saturday, November 23 on BBC America.