EDITORIAL: 8 Directors That Should Tackle DOCTOR WHO
With the British sci-fi show returning in three weeks, this article questions which big-name directors I personally think should and possibly could have a go at Doctor Who.
By SuperDude001 - 3/9/2013
Welcome everyone! For those who don’t know:
Doctor Who is a 50-year-old British sci-fi show revolving around the eccentric time-travelling 1200-year-old alien The Doctor, his mysterious machine the TARDIS, and his often human companion that joins him on his adventures across time and space.
In three weeks time the show will return to screens and while many still enjoy the show and dedicate time to watching it, some reviews and critics (including myself) have questioned the quality of the show compared to itself even a few years ago. Also with this being the 50th Anniversary year, there’s always hope that the BBC would try and get some big-names in whatever format to do something for the show (although all the episodes of the current series have been filmed, and the anniversary special has a director attached, something could happen for next year’s series)/
And so, I explore 8 top directors that I personally think should tackle an episode of the show (or more) and perhaps bring it back to the high quality it once used to be. I will not only explore the ‘why’ but also the chances of these directors contributing to the show.
1. EDGAR WRIGHT
(Spaced, Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World)
Back in 2010 the British director Edgar Wright told DS that he had been a fan of the show when he was a child.
"I was a huge Doctor Who nerd as a kid, to the point where I dressed up as Peter Davison's Doctor. The last time I saw Steven [Moffat], he said 'Any time you want to do a Doctor Who, just shout'."
Wright added that he had previously been approached to direct an episode of the show in 2005.
"I got offered to direct one of them when Russell T Davies was doing it, during the Christopher Eccleston series, and I wasn't really available to do it" he explained.
Also, leading star of Doctor Who Matt Smith has said:
"I'd tell you who I'd also think would be great. Edgar Wright. He'd do something brilliant. I think he'd do something really, really clever with it.
With these quotes taken account and Wright’s own eccentric and charismatic film-making style, which personally I love, it’s only logical to hope one day whether it be film or TV that the director take on the Doctor and his adventures in time and space; and with his talent it’s almost sure it would be a boost for the show (although if he ever was signed on let’s hope it’s after he completes Ant-Man).
2. RIAN JOHNSON
(Looper, The Brothers Bloom, Brick, Breaking Bad)
Last year (2012) during a Q&A session with fans on Reddit the director was asked what television series he would like to direct, leading to this answer:
"What I'd really kill to try, although it would be terrifying because I'm such a big fan of it? Doctor Who."
Although Joe Johnson’s filmography doesn’t contain much, his recent film Looper proved he can handle sci-fi successfully; and his two previous features Brick and The Brothers Bloom, and episodes of AMC drama Breaking Bad, consistently show Johnson’s good ability to direct film and TV.
3. J.J. ABRAMS
(Lost, Mission Impossible III, Super 8, Star Trek)
Although Abrams has never commented on been asked about his opinion of the show, I for one think his sci-fi style would be a great addition to the British series. However with Star Trek AND the new Star Wars trilogy being handled in some forms by him it’s very unlikely he’d ever go back to something as small as Doctor Who or even get the time, but still he did start small with Lost so there’s always hope.
4. TIM BURTON
(Batman, Alice In Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Dark Shadows, Edward Scissorhands)
Although Burton himself has never commented on the show, his partner Helena Bonham Carter has said (on Craig Ferguson’s Late Late Show) that their whole family are fans, after he asked :
CRAIG: Do you like Doctor Who?
HELENA: I do. You know Tim really likes it, and so does Billy.
So after this news perhaps it’s possible one day the eccentric almost-gothic director might turn his head to TV for one episode of the show (or even perhaps a movie, as fans have also wanted his close friend Johnny Depp to play the Doctor).
5. DANNY BOYLE
(Sunshine, 28 Days Later, 127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire)
The current lead actor of Doctor Who, Matt Smith, commented about Boyle to Digital Spy in 2012:
"Danny Boyle, I would just have a heart attack if he came anywhere near Doctor Who. I would love it. I just think he is the most brilliant director. I completely admire his work. I think he's just a brilliantly stylist and the DP [director of photography] that he uses Anthony Dod Mantle is wonderful as well. He's one of my favourite filmmakers around. He'd be an amazing director for Doctor Who, but I don't think we'd get him."
While this does majorly encourage Boyle to take on an episode, Boyle has said after Sunshine he was done with the sci-fi genre. However still, these comments from Smith do show some possibility of the BBC to reach out to the talented director for the show; as his success with 28 Days Later, Slumdog, 127 Hours, as well as the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, do show how much of a high quality director Boyle is.
6. STEVEN SPIELBERG
(Indiana Jones, Saving Private Ryan, Jaws, E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial, Lincoln)
I’ll admit this choice is quite a stretch, although Spielberg did once consider making a Doctor Who film in the 1990s and while this turned into the 1996 TV movie of the Eighth Doctor that Spielberg was not involved in, he has shown interest in the show. In 2008 showrunner Steven Moffat said that Spielberg had told him:
"The world would be a poorer place without Doctor Who"
This, as well as Spielberg’s work with Moffat on Tintin, does contribute some hope that one day the big-time director may go back to the lower leagues for one episode of Who or even consider a new film version (although there is apparently already one in the works from Moffat and David Yates).
7. JOSS WHEDON
(Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Serenity, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog, The Avengers/Avengers Assemble)
During a Reddit Q&A last year Whedon did have this to say when asked:
Q: Have you ever been approached to write a Doctor Who episode? Is it something you’d be interested in doing if the opportunity presented itself?
A: The Doctor is dope, but I’ve just spent 2 years writing other people’s characters.
And while this seems like killing a possibility of a Who episode, Whedon is currently writing the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That may be taking up his time, but his past comment contradicts his present self and he does say he likes the Doctor. So who knows, although unlikely, there is that possibility?
And with Whedon having directed some of the biggest nerd films ever and is currently engineering the MCU, I’m pretty sure I don’t have to tell you why he would be good for Doctor Who.
8. PETER JACKSON
(The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit Trilogy, King Kong, The Lovely Bones)
Whilst speaking with the Waikato Times in 2012 Jackson said:
"I'm a huge Doctor Who fan, and I think Matt [Smith]'s fantastic. Just name a time and place, and I'll be there!"
And while Jackson has a pretty full schedule due to the Hobbit Trilogy his enthusiasm and wide imagination (even whilst based on source material) do encourage the chance of him directing an episode of the magical show.
So, what do you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Other choices? Comment below!
Whatever you feel, I hope you enjoyed this and thanks for reading!
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