‘Doctor Who’: Peter Capaldi might stay after Steven Moffat’s exit
“Doctor Who” star Peter Capaldi has been asked to stay on the show even after showrunner Steven Moffat’s departure at the end of 2017. Whether he will stay or not is the real question. There were reports the British sci-fi show would need a new Time Lord when “Broadchurch” creator Chris Chibnall takes over the show after the 10th season.
“I’ve been asked to stay on,” the 57-year-old Scottish actor revealed to Radio Times, “but it’s such a long time before I have to make that decision.”
He was perhaps referring to the end of season 10, which hasn’t begun production yet. The season will be Moffat’s swansong in “Doctor Who” and will air in 2017.
Capaldi only had positive things to say about the outgoing and incoming showrunners, calling Moffat “absolutely wonderful,” and Chibnall a “hugely talented guy.” However, he admitted he didn’t know what direction the show would take once Moffat left, and what’s his role in the new Chibnall era if he decided to stay.
“I have to make up my mind, and I haven’t yet,” he said. “As Steven will tell you, it’s very difficult to say goodbye.”
When Moffat took over the show from Russell T Davies, who revived the show in 2005, he had a fresh start with fresh faces and fresh plot. The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) had seen his companions have a relatively happy ending, and all storylines were concluded satisfactorily. So by the time the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) came, Moffat had a clean slate for new plots and characters.
With Chibnall entering the picture, many Whovians assumed that Capaldi would exit as well. After all, the Twelth Doctor’s companion, Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), is now technically dead but still living an adventure with her own stolen TARDIS with Ashildr (Maisie Williams). The show is now looking for a new companion, though, but whoever they would pick might just be there for one season.
