Exclusive:
In a 1999 Comic Relief sketch, the actor played the Doctor. However, he declined the role when Russell T Davies asked him to reprise the role in 2007.
A TV insider claims Doctor Who might be going Marvel-style with Hugh Grant as the pilot of the TARDIS.
Russell T Davies, Showrunner for the sci-fi series is retaking control just in time for its 60th Anniversary in 2023.
According to an insider, Davies wants the Four Weddings and a Funeral Star, 61. “bring a fresh feel”To the role.
They also added: “He offers many attributes – great actor, British, award-winning, Hollywood A-lister and excellent at comedy. Conversations are in progress.”
Davies is also said to want to expand the Doctor’s horizons.
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According to an insider: “The vision is that the show can be a Marvel-like product, building franchises around the Doctor and other key characters in his many lives.”
The BBC Worldwide commercial and Sony Pictures TV are said to have backed Davies. Sony Pictures TV also purchased a majority stake at Wolf Studios, which produces the show.
The source also added: “With the utmost respect to the BBC, in the past attempts like Torchwood were made on a very limited budget in locations around Wales. Now the world is Russell’s oyster.”
Davies was responsible for the Doctor’s revival in 2005, after 16 years off-air, and for turning the show into a global phenomenon.
Steven Moffat and Chris Chibnall took over when he quit in 2009. Ratings have gotten worse.
This year Jodie Whittaker’s last shows, as the 13th Time Lord, will air before her and Chris depart.
Grant was BAFTA nominated for playing politician Jeremy Thorpe in Davies’ mini-series A Very English Scandal in 2018.
Moffat created a 1999 Comic Relief special in which the star played the role as the 12th Doctor.
Davies offered Hugh the role of lead five years later. Hugh admitted that he regrett not accepting the role in 2007.
He admitted: “It’s only when you see it on screen that you think, ‘Damn, that was good, why did I say no?”
