Master Cumberbatch?

Mr E · 27-02-2012 9:21pm #1

Still only a rumour, but fun casting.

The series preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, "Doctor Who" may be preparing for a special guest star from another Steven Moffat television series. Express.co.uk is reporting a rumor that "Sherlock" leading man Benedict Cumberbatch may be gearing up to play a new regeneration of the Doctor's arch-foe, The Master.

First appearing in 1971's "Terror of the Autons," the Master, like the Doctor, is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey and, as such, the character can "regenerate" and has been played by quite a few actors over the years. Roger Delgado originated the role with Anthony Ainley in the part the longest. Most recently, John Simm played The Master in the 2007 series (which then featured David Tennant as the Doctor).

Cumberbatch recently appeared on the big screen in War Horse and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and can, coming up, be seen in both The Hobbit and in J.J. Abram's untitled Star Trek sequel.

"Doctor Who" will resume broadcast later this year with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill all confirmed to return.

ComingSoon.net http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=87510

Sleepy · 27-02-2012 9:51pm

Would be good casting imho.

pixelburp · 27-02-2012 11:44pm

Awww, no one remenbers that David Jacobi was briefly the Master before Simm took over!

As for Cumberbatch, he is genre-flavour-of-the-month, so as rumours go it's a fairly credible one, and he'd be an excellent choice. But of course like all things Who-related & reported in the tabloids, I'll believe it when I see it.

In any case, can the Master come back? I've blotted End of Time from my memory, so I can't recall how things work out for Simm's Master. Doesn't he die, or get wiped from reality or something?

Doctor DooM · 28-02-2012 10:20am

pixelburp wrote: »

Awww, no one remenbers that David Jacobi was briefly the Master before Simm took over!

As for Cumberbatch, he is genre-flavour-of-the-month, so as rumours go it's a fairly credible one, and he'd be an excellent choice. But of course like all things Who-related & reported in the tabloids, I'll believe it when I see it.

In any case, can the Master come back? I've blotted End of Time from my memory, so I can't recall how things work out for Simm's Master. Doesn't he die, or get wiped from reality or something?

I remember.

I remember.

Basically Rassilon zapped him with his gauntlet ex machina and then everything went white so they could go with anything from ol' Masty jumping out of the way of the beam to Rassilon blinking out of existence before killing him to the Master's Storm impression killing him first. Whatever really.

aidan_walsh · 28-02-2012 7:16pm

Hasn't this been an ongoing rumour for a while, from the same ever reliable "someone with knowledge"?

Das Kitty · 29-02-2012 9:07am

I'd say it's guff.

I read the original article and it was all "we were told..." Really looked like something the journo had made up on the spot. I'm prepared to be spectacularly wrong though.

Doctor DooM · 29-02-2012 10:09am

There was a time period towards the end of Tennant's run where every second post of mine in this forum was "Will believe it when the BBC announce it". Who seems to be a great source of BS for bad journos.

I doubt it tbh, but we shall see.

campo · 29-02-2012 12:24pm

Hope this is not true only because I would love to see him as the next Doctor

jim-jam · 29-02-2012 4:59pm

campo wrote: »

Hope this is not true only because I would love to see him as the next Doctor

That would be cool.:)

Cyndaquil · 29-02-2012 9:24pm

Personally I would prefer to see Simm return (and there was an article on Digital Spy a while back that suggested he would be for it). I think it would be interesting to have a character faced by two different Doctors, rather than a precedent set whereby each new Doctor has his 'own' Master.

amen · 02-03-2012 2:51pm

Sorry but the Master is dead so this would be previous incarnation then ?

Das Kitty · 02-03-2012 2:57pm

amen wrote: »

Sorry but the Master is dead

Being dead never stopped him before!

Doctor DooM · 02-03-2012 4:25pm

Das Kitty wrote: »

Being dead never stopped him before!

Indeed, sure last time he was dead they just used a magic potion and lipstick to bring him back.

Stormageddon · 04-03-2012 6:45am

Anyone remember that week when David Morrissey was meant to be the new Doctor? Good times....
I think its just a rumor, Cumberbatch seems to be everywhere these days, but I loved John Simm as the Master so maybe its just wishful thinking on my part. The man does good megalomaniac.

Killer_banana · 07-03-2012 2:10am

I'd like to see Benedict Cumberbatch in Who but until this is announced by a reliable source I'm not buying it.

What with shared writers and fans and Benedict Cumberbatch being friends with David Tennant and Matt Smith there's always going to be rumours floating about. I've seen and heard about cumberbatch turning down the role of the Doctor hundreds of times even though he's said it's not true and he never auditioned or was offered the role.

ixoy · 07-03-2012 1:20pm

Cumberbatch would be a good choice as opposed to John Simm's camp comic performance. I reckon he could get the arch element bang on rather than leaping around like a hyper Chuckle brother.
It would also erase the memory of Season 29's finale.

pixelburp · 07-03-2012 1:31pm

ixoy wrote: »

Cumberbatch would be a good choice as opposed to John Simm's camp comic performance. I reckon he could get the arch element bang on rather than leaping around like a hyper Chuckle brother.
It would also erase the memory of Season 29's finale.

I'm on the fence with Simm's master; his initial appearance, while campy at times, was quite psychotic in many ways - Simm was fairly threatening when the script had him play it dark. I'm pretending his 2nd appearance didn't happen of course. No sir, trick of the light. Merely a rumour; never occured. Nuh-uh.

Min you, while we're on the subject of wasted uses of classic villains during RTD's tenure, it would also be nice to see Davros make a return at some point - they got the makeup, actor & performance spot-on, but his appearance was fleeting.

Morag · 07-03-2012 1:51pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iae-kvXu0k8

ixoy · 07-03-2012 1:52pm

pixelburp wrote: »

I'm on the fence with Simm's master; his initial appearance, while campy at times, was quite psychotic in many ways - Simm was fairly threatening when the script had him play it dark. I'm pretending his 2nd appearance didn't happen of course. No sir, trick of the light. Merely a rumour; never occured. Nuh-uh.

I think it's that second appearance that's spoilt it for me. All a bit OTT. I mean they can retcon timelines in the show - why not in my head?

Delgado did the arch camp performance spot on. It might be a bit interesting to go a different direction though and make him more unhinged without being a joke

it would also be nice to see Davros make a return at some point - they got the makeup, actor & performance spot-on, but his appearance was fleeting.

Yeah they did a great job with Davros, so naturally they didn't use him much. I'd be happy to see him brought back if we're forced to do another Dalek story line.

Master Cumberbatch?

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