"I Wanted A Hero Who Felt More": Why Ncuti Gatwa Was The Perfect Choice For New Doctor Who Era

Summary Ncuti Gatwa was chosen as the Fifteenth Doctor for Doctor Who season 14 due to his emotional range and relatability.

Showrunner Russell T. Davies wanted to portray the heightened emotional experience of the younger generation.

Gatwa's previous role in Sex Education showcased his ability to emote, aligning with the demands of the new Doctor Who season.

Russell T. Davies explains why Ncuti Gatwa was the perfect choice to act in the new Doctor Who era. Returning to the series after his original tenure from 2005–2010, Davies will serve as showrunner on the upcoming Doctor Who season 14. The series stars Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, accompanied by companion actresses Millie Gibson and Varada Sethu. Doctor Who season 14 is set for release on May 11.

Speaking with Rolling Stone, Davies explains why Gatwa was chosen as the Fifteenth Doctor. According to the Doctor Who creative, he wanted a Time Lord who could be relatable to the younger generation, and thus “wasn’t closed, who wasn’t all stiff upper lip.” He feels that the life of a young person “is bigger and madder and wilder and richer” than it was once. He thus wanted a “hero who felt more,” and realized that Gatwa was the perfect choice because he “could not hide [his] emotions for a second.” Check out his quote below:

“I was thinking about what a terrible world it is now, and how many stresses of mental health there are in young people. I wanted a hero who wasn’t closed, who wasn’t all stiff upper lip. And [who] wasn’t swaggering or butch, either. When children are feeling scared of the future, and when they’re on TikTok laughing hilariously with their friends, the life of a young person, I think, is bigger and madder and wilder and richer than it was when I was young, where we just sat there and went to school. So I wanted a hero who felt more. And at the same time as that (thought), along comes Ncuti, and bless you, you could not hide your emotions for a second in performance.”

Why Ncuti Gatwa Is a Great Choice for The Doctor

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Gatwa’s casting as the Time Lord has been met with mostly celebration, though there has been some backlash. This backlash has been racially-charged commentary from those who have qualms with Gatwa being Black and playing the Time Lord. Gatwa recently clapped back at his Doctor Who detractors, saying that those who waste their time complaining about such matters should find something better to do.

Prior to playing the Time Lord, Gatwa’s most notable role was playing Eric Effiong on the hit Netflix series Sex Education. As Eric, Gatwa brought an effervescent and unstoppable energy that made him an instant scene-stealer. He coupled his vivacious approach with subtle, sadder moments as teenage Eric grappled with drama in his romantic and platonic relationships, and navigated the complexity of being a gay man from a traditional, conservative Christian household.

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Like in the case of Doctor Who, Sex Education asked a lot of Gatwa in his ability to emote. Gatwa fully delivered when these acting demands were put on him, showing his range and strong ability to convey youthful emotions. Given Davies’ priorities for the season involved similar feats, Gatwa’s casting makes even more sense. Combined with the actor’s status as the first Black actor to play the Time Lord full time, marking a landmark casting decision, Gatwa’s track record shows that he possesses the ability to be one of Doctor Who season 14's casting highlights.

Source: Rolling Stone