Doctor Who is entering a new era under returning showrunner Russell T. Davies. With the upcoming 60th anniversary special starring David Tennant and the recent Disney+ deal that grants the series bigger budgets, the future of Doctor Who is bright.
Even as the series reinvents itself again, some of the actors who have appeared in the series share a similar career trend. It's not uncommon for those who have played the Doctor or one of his companions to later star as comic book villains in other projects.
Christopher Eccleston
Malekith, Thor: The Dark World
In 2005, Christopher Eccleston became the first actor to portray the lead character in Doctor Who's revived series, playing the Ninth Doctor for one season. Several years later, he also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portraying the Dark Elf leader Malekith in Thor: The Dark World.
While there was a tremendous amount of goodwill toward Eccleston as he took on the role of a comic book villain, Malekith ultimately fell flat. The talented actor found himself buried under the immense makeup used to bring his character to life, giving him little room to flex his skill. Eccleston has since gone on the record stating how much he disliked working on the film.
David Tennant
Kilgrave, Jessica Jones
As the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant was involved in some of Doctor Who's very best episodes, portraying the character over the course of three seasons and a series of television specials. In the years since, he also made waves in the Netflix Defenders Saga, where he portrayed the coldhearted villain Kilgrave in the first season of Jessica Jones.
Tennant was truly chilling as Kilgrave, outshining many other villains in the MCU. His commanding performance was certainly a highlight of the show's first season, with the Scottish actor finally allowed to delve into his dark side that was only ever hinted at during his time as the Doctor.
Matt Smith
Lucien/Milo, Morbius
Matt Smith has been popping up everywhere in recent years. His turn as the Eleventh Doctor truly shot him into the spotlight, leading him to accept numerous roles in various franchises. Though he is better remembered for other, better projects, many fans recognize Smith from his recent appearance in Morbius.
Playing Milo, a villainous counterpart to Jared Leto's antihero, Smith stole the film, clearly becoming the best part of an otherwise lackluster project. Hopefully, his role in Morbius will allow the English actor to attain villainous roles in better superhero films moving forward.
John Hurt
Adam Sutler, V For Vendetta
John Hurt has a unique place in Doctor Who history, portraying a Doctor who came between Eight and Nine, known as the War Doctor, who appeared in the 50th-anniversary special alongside David Tennant and Matt Smith. By that point, the iconic actor had already appeared as the villainous Adam Sutler in V for Vendetta.
Though not like their other projects, V for Vendetta was a film based on comics from DC Vertigo. Hurt's character is a secondary antagonist, heading up the film's political commentary as an authoritarian leader of England in a dystopian future.
Karen Gillan
Nebula, Guardians Of The Galaxy
Karen Gillan got her big break portraying Amy Pond, the most prominent companion of the Eleventh Doctor. Gillan gained a large following during her time on the series, leading to her next big role as Nebula in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014.
Despite her villainous ways upon her first appearance, Nebula has undergone a redemption arc in recent installments of the MCU, becoming a true hero over time. Gillan has also found new ways to bring the character to life, even under heavy prosthetics, making her upcoming appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy, volume 3 all the more exciting.
John Barrowman
Malcolm Merlyn, Arrow
John Barrowman made quite an impression on audiences during his time on Doctor Who. As Captain Jack Harkness, Barrowman interacted with the Ninth and Tenth Doctors before receiving his own spinoff series, Torchwood. Since the end of his series, he also appeared in a recurring role in the CW series Arrow.
As Malcolm Merlyn, Barrowman brought life to the Green Arrow's greatest villain, appearing sporadically throughout the series to cause havoc in Oliver Queen's life. His charm, surly ways, and underlying heart made Merlyn one of the Arrowverse's most compelling villains.
Jenna Coleman
Johanna Constantine, The Sandman
As Clara Oswald, Jenna Coleman served as a companion for both the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors during her time on Doctor Who. After departing the series, she appeared in a number of iconic roles, the most recent of which being Johanna Constantine in Netflix's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman.
While some would be more inclined to label Johanna Constantine as an antihero rather than a villain, there is no denying that she adheres to flimsier moral guidelines than most. Nevertheless, her adventures are sure to continue should The Sandman be picked up for a second season, exploring the deeper moral implications of Johanna's actions.
Felicity Jones
Felicia Hardy, The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Before becoming a major star, Felicity Jones had a one-off appearance in Doctor Who as the jewel thief Robina Redmond in the episode "The Unicorn and the Wasp." Since then, she has starred in a number of notable roles, including as Felicia Hardy, the future Black Cat, in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
While Jones's role was certainly intended to set up a larger part in the third installment of the franchise, this unfortunately never came to pass, leaving fans to wonder what the actress would have brought to the iconic comic book villain. Nonetheless, her role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 remains one of the more interesting parts of the deeply flawed film.
Tony Curran
Despero, The Flash
Tony Curran had a memorable role in the fifth season of Doctor Who, where he portrayed the legendary artist Vincent van Gogh in one of the most emotionally resonant episodes in the entire series. Since then, Curran has also appeared in the Arrowverse as Despero, one of the Flash's most powerful villains yet.
Curran's role in The Flash is certainly more over-the-top than his portrayal of van Gogh. Nevertheless, he does the best with the script he was given, becoming one of the highlights of The Flash's otherwise underwhelming eighth season.
Peter Capaldi
The Thinker, The Suicide Squad
As the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi was the final Doctor in Steven Moffat's time as Doctor Who's showrunner, ushering the character into a totally new era after his regeneration. In recent years, Capaldi has dipped his toe into the pool of comic book movies, portraying the Thinker in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad.
Among an extensive ensemble cast, Capaldi shines as a decidedly more sadistic character than the Twelfth Doctor. Like most other characters in the film, the Thinker dies a gruesome death, seemingly disqualifying the villain from any future appearances in the DCEU.