Doctor Who: Steven Moffat Reiterates that the Twelfth Doctor is Sticking Around
By David Hill
If Steven Moffat is telling the truth, the Twelfth Doctor may be staying around for quite some time to come.
Earlier in the year, there was quite a bit of speculation about whether or not Peter Capaldi would be leaving Doctor Who. Jenna Coleman, his companion for his first two seasons, had departed. Steven Moffat announced that he, himself, would leave after Series Ten. And, as the previous two Doctors lasted for three seasons, it seemed like this may be the right time for Capaldi to step aside.
However, Moffat said that he does not anticipate writing Capaldi’s regeneration. That statement could be taken one of two ways; that either the Twelfth Doctor would be around for Series Eleven, or that someone else would write that script. Tricksy Moffatses.
More recently, Moffat appears to have clarified his meaning. Indicating that he meant the first of the potential options, the showrunner stated at the #WritingDoctorWho event:
"As there is no new Doctor planned in the near future we don’t know if it would be a woman next time."
This would seemingly indicate that a) Capaldi will be around at least for a bit longer, and b) the powers that be are open to the possibility of the Doctor being female at some point.
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Of course, even that statement is a bit nebulous. Does he mean that Capaldi is sticking around, or should it be taken as no “new” Doctor, thereby confirming the speculation that Matt Smith could return? Well, seeing as how Smith has flat out stated that he is not coming back, it seems that Capaldi will be around for the foreseeable future.
It would certainly be great for Capaldi to continue his time on Doctor Who for a while longer. Just as the Fourth Doctor spent figuratively forever on the show, the Twelfth feels like an incarnation who would be in it for the long haul. After all, Capaldi was practically born to play the role. Maybe history can repeat itself once again, as the fourth Doctor of the program’s revival can match Tom Baker for longevity.
But, wait — what does Moffat mean by “near future”? Only time will tell…
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