John Barrowman wants to play Captain Jack Harkness in more Doctor Who episodes after this year’s upcoming holiday special. The fan-favorite character was a mainstay of the early seasons of the reboot when Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant played the eponymous Doctor, even going on to lead the cast of the successful spinoff series Torchwood. Now he’s returned to the Whoniverse for the first time in years, and if Barrowman has his way, it won’t be a one-time thing.
Barrowman made his Who debut in 2005 during the first season of the rebooted (sort of) show, appearing alongside Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper in a number of episodes. A con man and former time agent from the 51st century, Captain Jack eventually becomes a member of the Torchwood Institute, a secret English organization focused on extraterrestrial activity. He appeared as a primary character in all four series of Torchwood and returned several times to the David Tennant seasons of Doctor Who. Barrowman recently returned as Captain Jack in the Doctor Who episode “Fugitive of the Judoon,” and he will be back for the upcoming holiday special “Revolution of the Daleks.”
If Barrowman has his way though, the upcoming special won’t be his last turn as Captain Jack. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the actor said he hopes his return in “Revolution of the Daleks” is a big hit. “I want the show to do well,” Barrowman said. “I want the reaction to be good, because there's a possibility that they could bring him back.” When asked if there were any concrete plans for more Captain Jack in the future, Barrowman said he’s not sure, but he hopes so.
“I can’t answer that, because I don’t know. However, I've always said, I love the show so much, I love the character so much, that if they ever ask me, at a drop of a hat, I will be back. I’ll make it work, I’ll figure out a way. It will always happen.”
Most of the Doctor Who fan base will likely be as excited at the prospect as Barrowman is himself. Captain Jack was a landmark role, both as a beloved recurring addition to the Whoniverse, and as a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ representation in science fiction and on television in general. Torchwood is held in nearly as high regard as the best series of the core show, Barrowman’s performance as Jack was a big part of that success.
Whether or not all that history and popularity translate into more Captain Jack remains to be seen. Hopefully, Barrowman’s passion combined with the fan response, can push for future appearances. At the very least, he’ll be returning to Doctor Who one more time when “Revolution of the Daleks” premieres on New Year’s Day.
Source: Entertainment Weekly