Doctor Who is one sci-fi series American viewers have really wanted to see being made for American TV. And this could actually be a good idea since everyone could benefit from better sci-fiction outings, especially in the golden era of streaming. So, what would the cast look like if the beloved show was remade for viewers in the US?
Going for an A-lister name for the main characters may not make a lot of sense because the show may need some time to test waters and big names usually makes things trickier since they need to be paid a lot of money and may have their own improvisations to the script. Casting TV pros is something that would work really well for American Doctor Who and here’s a list of people who would be ideal in the American remake of the show.
Doctor Who: Matthew Gray Grubler
Grubler’s fandom, which is quite large, will agree that the Criminal Minds star needs to play the time-traveling time lord and get the keys to his own TARDIS ASAP. Grubler has perfected the cerebral, non-threatening, socially awkward wonder boy niche so well that playing Doctor Who would be a cakewalk for him. His stint as Spencer Reid explored several kinds of personal complexes in his character and Grubler was able to showcase a stunning range in the crime thriller. Plus, he looks great in a wooly vest and bowtie so he should fit right in.
Rose: Kaley Cuoco
Billie Piper’s Rose received top billing alongside the ninth and tenth doctor and was a fan favorite from Day 1. Rose was a teen retail worker who was the Doctor’s companion and also helped him cope with the aftermath of the Great Time War.
The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco would be the perfect fit for playing the spunky and individualistic Rose. The character was designed to be working class and very British, but for audiences in the US, someone quintessentially American or mid-western would fit the prototype and Cuoco can really ace the small-town girl style.
Amy Pond: Sarah Hyland
Amy and the eleventh doctor shared a really special bond because the Doctor first met her when she was a child; she later meets the Doctor a decade later as an adult, after she had been repeatedly told that the ‘Raggedy Doctor’ from her stories are not real. She was also River Song’s mum and played a crucial role in the chronology of the series.
Amy was fiercely independent and gutsy and worked several odd jobs to sustain herself, she was also a regular, working class companion to the time lord. Modern Family star Sarah Hyland could be a really interesting pick to play Amy, especially because she has only been seen as the spoilt and shallow Haley on the show. Playing Amy would be a refreshing change of pace for her, plus the sci-fi cred would only help her career.
Nardole: Anthony Carrigan
The Doctor Who fandom has often questioned the makers about Nardole; he was never given much to do, despite having tremendous comic potential and was being played by celebrated comedian Matt Lucas. The makers did not commit to the idea of making Nardole a series regular, although he had proved that he is definitely interesting to watch. Barry star Anthony Carrigan who stole the show as NoHo Hank would be perfect to play Nardole in an American remake of Doctor Who. This is obviously a character-driven role, and not a circumstance-driven one and Carrigan could add an extra edge to the character which may complement the Doctor’s trajectory really well.
Rory Williams: Manny Jacinto
The Good Place star Manny Jacinto stole everyone’s hearts as the slow but gullible Jason on The Good Place and would be the perfect choice to play Rory if Doctor Who was made in the US. Rory is a dedicated partner to Amy, he’s also very different from her; he’s a realist and grounded and knows how to keep things real when Amy gets too carried away.
He actually becomes embroiled in the Doctor’s shenanigans out of his love for Amy. Jacinto’s fans would love to see him play the practical boyfriend especially after he has spent so much time playing a rather stupid character on TV.
Donna Noble: Sofia Vergara
Donna’s character really divided the Doctor Who fandom; while some fans loved the bossy, talkative companion, some fans really hated her and didn’t think she was a good fit as a companion. But Catherine Tate and David Tennant’s chemistry was unmissable because they had a great off-screen rapport as well and Tate had a lot of natural, effortless spunk and really made the role her own. Sofia Vergara is perhaps the only other actor who can take over a character like this and introduce meaningful improvisations without being too affected by the overall tenor or the existing fandom of a show.
Graham: Steve Carell
Since the franchise has almost always prioritized the female companions and promoted them to series regular, Graham’s character was a really refreshing one. He’s not just Ryan’s grand-father but proves to be a valuable asset to Jodie Whitaker’s journey as a time lord as he is wise and yet not condescending or dismissive of new ideas.
Fans were worried about how a middle-aged man may fit into the series but Bradley Walsh really made the role his own. But it certainly needed a little more edge and individuality, and The Office star Steve Carell would be ideal to depict Graham in the American version. He’s a real chameleon and can take on any role and mold it to perfection.
Martha: Yara Shahidi
The Doctor Who fandom unanimously agrees that Martha wasn’t dealt a fair hand by the makers of the show; she was technically a rebound companion for the tenth doctor which was a bit tricky because his last companion Rose was loved by the fans. Martha was also not the traditional companion, she was a doctor and didn’t really want to leave her old life to follow the Doctor through time and space but was definitely intrigued by his origins. Plus, she also had some unrequited feelings for the Doctor which didn’t help her situation. Black-ish star Yara Shahidi could be great in this role, especially because she really excels in playing free-thinking, cerebral characters who live life by their own rules.
Clara: Lili Reinhart
Reinhart has displayed a huge range in a short time, and playing Clara could only help her resume Clara was the longest-serving companion and her energy and sense of innovation was something that made her so interesting. The best thing about Clara was definitely her versatility, she fit right in with Matt Smith’s time lord, who was the youngest Doctor and with Peter Capaldi who was one of the oldest Doctor. Plus, Reinhart’s popularity with Gen-Z could only help the show get noticed by younger viewers.