Doctor Who guest star Nathaniel Curtis, best known for his role in Channel 4’s It’s a Sin (2021), has shared an interesting fact about Wild Blue Yonder—the second of the three 2023 specials of the acclaimed British sci-fi TV series. Even though the 32-year-old star appeared on the screen alongside David Tennant, the pair didn’t get to meet on the show’s set.
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The 2023 specials serve to commemorate the show’s 60th anniversary. Tennant and Catherine Tate returned for the occasion. Tennant played the role of the Fourteenth Doctor, the latest incarnation who resembles the Tenth Doctor. Tate, meanwhile, reprised the character of Donna Noble. In the second special aired on 2 December 2023, Nathaniel Curtis cameoed as Isaac Newton.
The documentary series Doctor Who: Unleashed disclosed the logistical reason for Curtis and Tennant’s inability to film together.
Nathaniel Curtis Couldn’t Film With David Tennant For The Doctor Who Special
Neither David Tennant nor Catherine Tate were able to meet Nathaniel Curtis on the set of Doctor Who‘s second 2023 special, Wild Blue Yonder. In the opening sequence, the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna briefly encounter Isaac Newton just as he is about to discover his theory of gravity (or should we say, mavity?)
The actors weren’t all there for the sequence’s filming, despite the scene’s amazing visuals giving the impression that they were. As revealed in Doctor Who: Unleashed, Curtis wasn’t present on the set alongside Tennant and Tate during the production of the special’s opening. David Tennant and Catherine Tate filmed their TARDIS scenes at the Bad Wolf Studios with the help of a green screen, whereas Curtis’s Newton appearance was shot somewhere else.
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Expressing regret over not getting to work together on-set, the star of the series, David Tennant, said:
“It’s a shame. I’ve met Nathaniel, and he’s really nice. I would have loved to do a scene with him. […] Apparently, he asked not to have anything to do with us. He asked to be kept apart. He was very particular.”
The latter portion of the statement was stated in a lighthearted spirit. On the other hand, Nathaniel Curtis had the following to say:
“I love David Tennant. He’s such a lovely man and a brilliant Doctor. I grew up watching him as the Doctor, so it’s a bit surreal.”
While his co-stars had only lovely things to say about him, some social media users don’t like that Nathaniel Curtis is playing Isaac Newton, deeming it “woke.” In response, Doctor Who casting director Andy Pryor explained why Curtis’ embodiment of the role made sense.
Doctor Who Casting Director Explained Why The Casting Works
In an interview with Digital Spy, the casting director of the British sci-fi TV series, Andy Pryor, disclosed it was showrunner Russell T Davies who came up with the concept to bring in Curtis for the role of Newton. He explained the decision in the statement below:
“That was Russell’s idea, actually. We had talked about trying to get Nathaniel in the show at some point, and I think it’s a … rather cheeky but fun interpretation of Isaac Newton. You know, it’s not a historical drama. Let’s just have some fun with it.”
In response to the social media backlash for casting Curtis in the role of a real-life historical figure who happened to be a white man, Pryor had the following to comment:
“It’s sad that we’re in a time where people villainize minorities. […] I’m also very, very happy to block people on Twitter. I don’t really have any time for bigotry at all.”
Additionally, the casting director clarified that the goal behind such casting choices is to guarantee that people are given a voice and that members of all minorities are well-represented. “If they can see themselves on screen, then that can be a huge lifeline for some people,” explained Pryor.
He concluded his statement by affirming that most of the time, people on social media “get sucked into” preaching hateful rhetoric they might not legitimately believe in.
All three Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials are available for streaming on Disney+.
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