Thursday, March 1, 2012

Rumor Alert: Benedict Cumberbatch To Portray The Master

 Roger Delgado plots Panic!

Aside from the Daleks, I doubt you'd find a more infamous foe of Great Britain's planet-hopping Time Lord, Doctor Who than The Master!  The original production was and still is the longest running sci-fi show in the world, and the new series is going strong at home and abroad!  This coming season will mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, and according to a story from express.co.uk, this celebratory event will mark the return of The Master (his first appearance since 2009's two-part Christmas/New Years Special Doctor Who: The End of Time).

Anthony Ainley waxes Wicked!


The real meat of the story, however, is that show runner Stephen Moffat may be importing Benedict Cumberbatch (the star of his hit BBC series Sherlock) to portray the arch villain!  The last performer to take the role was John Simms whose take deviated from previous actors (such as Roger Delgado and Anthony Ainley with their traditional mustache-twirling brand of evil, the sinister string pulling of Peter Pratt and Geoffrey Beevers ...

 Peter Pratt contemplates Chaos!

 ... while Geoffrey Beevers assembles atrocities

... or even the hammy approach to the Delgado/Ainley archtype by Eric Roberts (who portrayed the character a single time in 1996's Dr. Who: The Movie)).

Eric Roberts fiendishly commits Crimes of Fashion

Mr. Simms portrayal of the Master was that of a Joker-esque madman who was incredibly dangerous but not nearly as conniving (or as much fun) as some of the other incarnations of the character.

 John Sims' gives gas Two Thumbs Up!

If Mr. Cumberbatch's previous work is any indication, we can count on a more thoughtful and cerebral performance than we've been given in quite some time, which ought to please old school Whovians and hopefully draw some of the new fans into our nostalgia.

The story has neither been confirmed or denied by BBC, putting it in the rumor category, but even if it does turn out to be a red herring, the idea has a great deal of merit.

 Benedict Cumberbatch: The Once And Future Master?
Who ('snicker') can say for Sure?

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