Eighth Doctor's Spectacular Comeback: Paul McGann Set to Reprise Iconic Role in Doctor Who 2023

Summary

Paul McGann's return to Doctor Who for the 60th anniversary brings back memories of his dramatic comeback during the 50th anniversary.

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The franchise is presently commemorating its significant anniversary with the multi-platform event Doom's Day, featuring familiar characters such as Missy and K-9 in both comic and literary formats.

Though McGann's reappearance in Doom's Day is thrilling, it assumes a more understated and modest role when compared to his previous comeback in "The Night of the Doctor," which was a standout moment during Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.

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While Paul McGann's inclusion in the 60th anniversary celebrations of Doctor Who is exciting, it also evokes nostalgic memories of his previous dramatic comeback during the 50th anniversary. The year 2023 marks a significant milestone of 60 years spent watching a wooden police box traverse time and space, with mischief in tow. This occasion becomes even more special as it coincides with Russell T. Davies returning as Doctor Who showrunner, the introduction of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fourteenth Doctor, and the brand new era of Doctor Who on Disney+. Speculation and anticipation run high as fans eagerly anticipate surprises and eagerly guess which familiar faces will join the festivities with a bottle of Aldebaran brandy.

Though the trio of 60th anniversary TV specials for Doctor Who are on their way, the franchise is currently celebrating its milestone birthday with "Doom's Day." This multi-platform event features the iconic Doom searching for the Doctor for a continuous 24 hours, and has already included beloved characters like Missy and K-9 in comic and literary form. September 2023 will see the continuation of the series with the Big Finish audio release titled "Dying Hours." Sooz Kempner stars as Doom, alongside Paul McGann reprising his role as Doctor Who's Eighth Doctor (via BBC).

Paul McGann's Doctor Who Anniversary Return Is Very Different To 10 Years Ago

Bringing back Paul McGann as Doctor Who is always exciting, especially after the TV movie from the 1990s. In the Doom's Day narrative, the Eighth Doctor will play a crucial role and bring some star power to the show. However, ten years ago, McGann's contribution to Doctor Who was different. "The Night of the Doctor," a surprise short film, was released online. It not only featured the Eighth Doctor in live-action for the first time since 1996 but also showed his regeneration, directly leading into the TV special "The Day of the Doctor." While McGann's inclusion in the Doom's Day storyline is great, it is a quieter and less groundbreaking return compared to his previous appearance in "The Night of the Doctor" a decade ago. The Eighth Doctor has been consistently present in Big Finish's Doctor Who audios, so fans hoping for a Disney+ spinoff or a live-action cameo in the show's 60th-anniversary specials may have to settle for a more modest role for McGann in 2023, at least for now.

Doctor Who's 60th Specials Can Still Bring Back Paul McGann (But It Won't Be As Good)

Paul McGann's inclusion in Doctor Who's 60th anniversary celebrations as a disembodied voice in "Doom's Day" does not necessarily rule out the possibility of the Eighth Doctor appearing alongside David Tennant and Ncuti Gatwa in the upcoming TV specials. However, it seems unlikely that showrunner Russell T. Davies would allow McGann to participate in "Doom's Day" if he was also scheduled to make a live-action cameo later in 2023.

Even if Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor does make an appearance in the 60th anniversary episodes, the significance of that guest spot has been diminished by Jodie Whittaker's regeneration story "The Power of the Doctor," which aired in January 2023. In that episode, McGann appeared alongside Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy as part of a dream-like sequence, offering advice to the Thirteenth Doctor. As this was already his second live-action appearance in 2023, any potential cameo by the Eighth Doctor in the 60th anniversary specials would have a much lesser impact.

Sources: BBC