Chris Chibnall on Doctor Who season 11 casting, female Doctor buzz

Could fans get a female Doctor Who season 11 star? It’s no secret that Peter Capaldi is departing the series, just as it’s no secret that Steven Moffat is leaving as showrunner. We know Chris Chibnall is the new boss, but he is far away from picking the next star.

Obviously, Chibnall is aware of the rumors surrounding Tilda Swinton and a variety of other names out there. He’s in tune with the press, and he’s doing a ton of interviews promoting Broadchurch at present. However, he is not anywhere near the point of deciding who the next Doctor will be. Speaking per the East Anglian Daily Times in a new interview, the writer made it clear precisely where he is in the process, and how he’s hesitant to cast a woman just for the sake of doing so:

“I can honestly say that nothing has yet been decided. I haven’t got my feet under the table yet. I have been working on the play (new comedy Worst Wedding Ever) and I am still finishing the latest series of Broadchurch. Nothing is ruled out but I don’t want the casting to be a gimmick and that’s all I can say.”

Our viewpoint on the next star of the season remains the same. Write the script / sides / whatever you are using for auditions and screen tests in a way that anyone can play the part. Bring in people, and when you find a voice that speaks to you, you go with that person for the role. To us, it doesn’t matter if that person is a man or a woman just so long as they are right.

We also do hope that in the event that a man is hired for whatever reason, all viewers give him a chance rather than blaming him for not being the female Doctor that we wanted. We do want a woman in the part eventually, but we do have a certain degree of faith in the showrunners and executives to make the right decision.

Before we depart, be sure to head over here to see a pretty fantastic new teaser trailer for season 10, one that puts the character of Bill (Pearl Mackie) in the spotlight more than ever before. (Photo: BBC.)

What do you want to see for the Doctor Who casting process this season? Be sure to share in the comments!