Time Lord Talk: Depp as Doctor Who on Big Screen?

Johnny Depp as Doctor Who in a feature film?  


Various sources, including Tor, claim it's a possibility. Former contemporary Doctor Who mastermind Russell T. Davies, who gave us the BBC series featuring 9th and 10th Doctors as well as Torchwood, is said to be writing a story for the big screen. Davies and series producer Julie Gardner, who moved to Los Angeles, have set their sites on a Time Lord film.

Davies said in a piece up (and now gone) on PubArticles, “Bringing the Who franchise to the theaters is a regeneration for the character beyond the usual one. A theatrical release has a greater range and can reach millions of more people than just the fans. There will be brand new concepts and the film will be just as adventurous, scary and humorous as the television programme. But none of us working the film will forget what makes the character great and interesting and the long-time fans will not be disappointed because yes, the  Daleks make an appearance.”


The article reportedly said the Doctor would head  “on a journey through time and space with a crew of volunteers treating humanity’s illnesses brought on by invading aliens. He cures the bubonic plague and then goes to Africa to fight Ebola.” Really now? Hmmm....


Tor claims studio sources have confirmed Deep as the Doctor, though the story line is still really unknown.  Meanwhile, Depp's still involved with a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film, On Stranger Tides, slated for 2011.


For fans of the Doctor in various incarnations, the question is would Depth be the 12th Doctor (and where would that leave Matt Smith's Doctor on the current series?) or some other incarnation from the future (though with all that time traveling, it doesn't matter what century he's from, does it?). Perhaps explanations aren't needed.  But if anyone could pull off a fine eccentric version of The Doctor, it would be Depp. Just think, yet another franchise for him to take in a new direction.