Peter Capaldi to Play Doctor Who
During a live broadcast on BBC America today, Scottish actor Peter Capaldi was named the new Doctor Who in the British sci-fi franchise, USA Today reported Aug. 4. Capaldi will replace Matt Smith, who will depart later this year.
"It's so wonderful not to keep this secret any longer," Capaldi reportedly said. "I haven't played Doctor Who since I was 9 on the playground."
The 55-year-old actor will be the 12th guy to play Doctor Who since the show's debut in 1963. William Hartnell was the original star of the cult show and it was redone in 2005.
Capaldi was actually considered to be the 11th doctor by executive producer Steven Moffat.
"There comes a right time for the right person to play it," USA Today reported Moffat said. "We all had the same idea and it was a quite different idea."
Capaldi was most recently see in World War Z as a World Health Organization doctor. He also will be starring in the upcoming's The Fifth Estate and Maleficent.
Past Doctor Who stars were also at the BBC America special, such as Peter Davinson, who played the fifth Doctor Who from 1981-1984.
"In a way it's the longest job in television. It's a whirlwind time when you do it, and it keeps on going after," Davinson said.
USA Today also reported that Davinson's daughter is actually married to the 10th Doctor, Tennant.
Doctor Who has always been a hit in the U.K., but has recently gained a large following in the States with the show becoming the highest-rated series on BBC America.
