A past Doctor will return to the Doctor Who universe in a new spin-off series.
Back in 1996, Paul McGann played the eighth Doctor in a television film with Eric Roberts, Daphne Ashbrook, and the outgoing seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy.
The film, a collaboration between BBC Worldwide and Universal Studios, was an effort to resurrect the sci-fi show after it was terminated in 1989.
While there were intentions to make it into a series, it was never taken up due to low ratings in the United States, and no new episodes were made until 2005.
Paul, 63, has returned the character numerous times since, most recently in 2013 for the mini-episode The Night of the Doctor, which aired during the show’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Then, last year, he appeared with other former Doctors in The Power of the Doctor special, which marked Jodie Whittaker’s final appearance in the role.
But he’s about to become the star of his own show, with the actor apparently in discussions to appear in his own spin-off.
Russel T Davies, who revived the series in 2005 and is back on board for the next specials and episodes, announced earlier this year that there will be multiple spin-offs.
‘Russell likes the idea of bringing back McGann with his own set of episodes in the TARDIS,’ a source has now said.
‘Disney are on board as they want more original content and want to fully exploit the franchise as they know how big it could become,’ they added when speaking to The Mirror.
Last month Paul also said he’d love to return.
‘The fans call me the longest and the shortest [Doctor]. I’ll have it. Less than two hours of screen time in 27 years, but somehow still kind of everywhere all at once. It could only happen in Who world,’ he told The Guardian.
‘I was recently in one of the Jodie Whittaker episodes (The Power of the Doctor). That’s the only time that the Eighth Doctor got on to the telly. So, it gave me a little taste for it. I wouldn’t mind doing some more,’ he added.
Doctor Who returns later this month with three episodes commemorating the 60th anniversary, with David Tennant reprising his role as the Doctor and Catherine Tate reprising her role as Donna Noble.
The specials will begin on November 25 with The Star Beast, which will see the Doctor and Donna finally meet after years apart.
Following this will be Wild Blue Yonder on December 2 and The Giggle on December 8.
Russell stated earlier this year that it seemed like the right time to create more spin-offs since the programme was ready for the “next stage.”
‘I did Torchwood as a spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures as a spin-off,’ he said.
While he said they ‘declined’ after he left the BBC and ‘money became scarce’ he was looking forward to expanding the offerings for fans.
Doctor Who returns on Saturday 25th November on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
