Christopher Eccleston

[KryptonSite]

Any thoughts or ideas on who Christopher Eccleston might be playing?

[TARDIS Team]

Christopher Eccleston will be playing Claude, a man with the power of invisibility. According to comments in TV Guide, he will make his first appearance in the January 22nd episode, and will form a bond with Peter. He will teach Peter how to control his power, and act as a mentor and guide to the youngest Petrelli.

I thought Chris would be playing Linderman, but I guess not so much. I’m still not convinced that he won’t have something to do with Linderman, but I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.

[Lexgirl33]

:D Wow, I am looking forward to seeing him on HEROES!

[Exodus2000]

The name sounds familiar, is he the guy who played Doctor Who in the first season?

I'd look it up but im too lazy.

[Lexgirl33]

Yes he did

[TARDIS Team]

Indeed, Christopher Eccleston was the 9th Doctor. My avatar is of the 9th Doctor, with Peter mixed in for good measure.

[warriorrenegade]

Sweet. I only remember him from the movie "Gone in 60secs". So hes mentoring Peter. Wonder if hes a good mentor or evil mentor. LOL Sort of a Professor X and Magneto vibe with Mohinder and with this new guy.

[TARDIS Team]

I’ve already started conspiracy theories around my house that he’s involved with either Mr. Bennett or Mr. Linderman, and that while his intentions may seem initially good, he will in fact be the reason Peter ultimately goes BOOM.

I’m an optimist.

Sadly, I don’t expect Chris will be a regular, at least not beyond the end of season 1. He has a thing about staying tied down to a single series for too long, and eleven episodes seems about like his “limit” (he made it full on 13 episodes before leaving Doctor Who). He's probably my favorite actor out of the UK, so it's obvious he won't stick around for long.

And Chris, if you're reading this (the most likely of scenarios, I know) I enjoin thee -- don't let them make you use your "American accent"... you know, the one you used in eXistenZ. :eek:

[SOnMyChest]

hmm....good theory. but as I see it why can it not be possible that the person had the ability to learn and control these powers on his own and his teachings to peter are genuine?

[TARDIS Team]

That's perfectly possible... but Chris has this trend going in terms of roles. He seems to play a good guy, then a bad guy, then a good guy again. Gone In Sixty Seconds -- Bad. The Others -- Good. 28 Days Later -- Bad. Doctor Who -- Good. Heroes -- TBA. ;)

I don't think he'll actually finish up being bad, I just like to theorize. I spend a lot of time coming up with theories that never pan out (and it's not just limited to Heroes).

[AbbyLei]

I read in a newspaper yesterday thet he uses his invisibility powers to steal jewellry and rob banks....

[Lexgirl33]

*sigh* I need my 9th Doc fix :lol: BTW James, Im loving the avy! :D

AbbyLei- thank you for sharing

[TARDIS Team]

Thanks, Lexgirl. :D

I got the First Series boxset under the Christmas tree, and I'm one book away from having all of the 9th Doctor books... so my fix is in check.

Originally posted by AbbyLei
I read in a newspaper yesterday thet he uses his invisibility powers to steal jewellry and rob banks....

Bam! If this is true, then my theory on his trend in roles is proving to be quite right. :D

[Lexgirl33]

Even I coughed up $60 for the box set :lol: 2nd series comes out in January here.

But your fix will be in check after a marathon :D

[Superboy2]

I thought I saw him b4. I've seen a small part of Doctor Who. I love Gone in Sixty Seconds though.

[emily feist]

I'm glad he's gonna be on Heroes I missed him. I liked him as Doctor Who more than this new guy.

[Superboy2]

So when Sci-fi channel shows new episodes of Doctor Who, with Eccelston, they aren't that new?

[emily feist]

You're probably seeing last season. The season that's currently on where I am is with a new actor playing Doctor Who.

[Superboy2]

Is there a link to how many actors have portrayed him? I've only seen 2-3 episodes, and I'm confused by it.

[TARDIS Team]

Originally posted by Superboy2
Is there a link to how many actors have portrayed him? I've only seen 2-3 episodes, and I'm confused by it.

Here’s a list:

William Hartnell (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hartnell) – The First Doctor (1963-1966)

Patrick Troughton (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Troughton) – The Second Doctor (1966-1969)

Jon Pertwee (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Pertwee) – The Third Doctor (1970-1974)

Tom Baker (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Baker) – The Fourth Doctor (1974-1981)

Peter Davison (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Davison) – The Fifth Doctor (1981-1984)

Colin Baker (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Baker) – The Sixth Doctor (1984-1986)

Sylvester McCoy (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvester_McCoy) – The Seventh Doctor (1986-1989, 1996)

Paul McGann (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McGann) – The Eighth Doctor (1998)

Chistopher Eccleston (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Eccleston) – The Ninth Doctor (2005)

David Tennant (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Tennant) – The Tenth Doctor (2006- )

We get the new series of Doctor Who about six months after our UK cousins, so when they’re run on Sci-Fi and BBC America here, they’re a bit old. Eccleston’s episodes ran “new” on Sci-Fi half way through David Tennant’s first series on BBC 1. David is confirmed for a fourth series, so he’ll be in the roll at least until 2008.

The production team had the good sense to introduce Christopher Eccleston as though he were the “first” Doctor, so as not to alienate new viewers, but he’s really just the ninth in a long line of fine actors to play the part.

[Superboy2]

So its like James Bond, a couple of seasons and they get a new actor? Ok. So, are all of the "Doctors" supposed to be the same person?

[KryptonSite]

Yeah, they're all the same character, though each time he changes, some personality traits may be more pronounced than others.

This MIGHT explain things a little:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regeneration_%28Doctor_Who%29

[TARDIS Team]

Originally posted by Superboy2
So its like James Bond, a couple of seasons and they get a new actor? Ok. So, are all of the "Doctors" supposed to be the same person?

Not quite like James Bond, but it does help to perpetuate the show. The concept was introduced in 1966 when William Hartnell’s age proved to be a problem (he was getting sick more and more often, and the shooting schedule was grueling) and it’s helped the show’s shelf life immensely.

The short answer about his ability is as follows -- the Doctor is of a race that have harnessed the ability to save their life in near death situations. This process is called regeneration, and while it is rather effective, it’s not 100% guaranteed to work. It has been known to come dangerously close to failing (the 5th Doctor’s regeneration into the 6th almost failed, and his regenerative process was nearly destroyed entirely in the Fox TV Movie by the anesthetic used while Earth doctors were performing surgery on him).

The process usually causes him act erratic, and in the case of the Sixth Doctor created massive negative character flaws (such as cowering behind his companions and using them as human shields. He even tries to strangle his companion at the time when he becomes unhinged directly after the regeneration.)

The link provided by our Lord and Master is quite good. It's an interesting concept, and was quite unique when it was conceived... I just wish Chris hadn't bowed out of the role so mind-numbingly quickly.

[Superboy2]

It kinda makes sense. Since I've seen a couple of episodes of the tenth doctor and a few of the ninth, it may be hard 2 follow.

[TARDIS Team]

It's not too difficult to follow. "The Parting of the Ways" and "The Christmas Invasion" does a pretty good job of establishing what's what (The Christmas Invasion is on Sci-Fi Christmas Day during their Movie Marathon, incidentally.) The "new" series does a good job of setting up everything in a way so that new viewers won't be buried under 43 years worth of back story.

[Superboy2]

So, if I buy the first season with Christopher Eccleston, and David Tennant following, I don't need 2 know anything b4 that. I just don't want tp spend alot of money on the series starting in the sxities-now, and thats alot of money.

[TARDIS Team]

A ton of the episodes from the sixties no longer exist, the BBC having a policy back then of destroying old prints when they ran out of space. A handful of William Hartnell’s stories have been destroyed, and most of Patrick Troughton’s no longer exist (which is why they’ve started animating them now, using the original soundtrack recordings).

But no, you don’t need to know anything about the classic series to watch the new one, which is why the Christopher Eccleston series is called “Series 1”. There is a rich historical background to the programme, but Russell T Davies (the series's head writer and producer) had the good sense to revive the series in a way that doesn’t involve new viewers needing to be up to scratch on what has come before. My mother absolutely can’t stand the 1963-1989 series, but she adores the Eccleston and Tennant Doctors.

So if you’re interested in checking out the current Doctor Who series, then feel free. Treat it as you would any brand new programme. :)

[TARDIS Team]

There's a video preview for Heroes running at the NBC website, and apparently Eccleston is in it. He's sporting a beard for the programme. I've seen him in a beard in the past, and he looks kind of odd wearing it... but I suppose if he can go invisible, that's not much of an issue. :D

[FotW]

:lol: His American accent was bad? Nothing a dialect coach couldn't fix I guess. Anyhow, I'm excited that CE is going to join Heroes! I love hiim as the Doctor (too much). :D Also, in the original H.G Wells novel the invisible man was British, so I think it would be a cool kind of tribute to classic science fiction if he kept his accent. But the original invisble man went insane! I bet CE would be great as insane.
Originally posted by TARDIS Team
I’ve already started conspiracy theories around my house that he’s involved with either Mr. Bennett or Mr. Linderman, and that while his intentions may seem initially good, he will in fact be the reason Peter ultimately goes BOOM.

I’m an optimist.

Sadly, I don’t expect Chris will be a regular, at least not beyond the end of season 1. He has a thing about staying tied down to a single series for too long, and eleven episodes seems about like his “limit” (he made it full on 13 episodes before leaving Doctor Who). He's probably my favorite actor out of the UK, so it's obvious he won't stick around for long.

And Chris, if you're reading this (the most likely of scenarios, I know) I enjoin thee -- don't let them make you use your "American accent"... you know, the one you used in eXistenZ. :eek:

[LuvClana]

I am SO looking forward to C.E. on Heroes. He did a fantastic job on Doctor Who and he's still one of my favorite characters on that show. Can't wait to see his Heroes role :)

[Randy G.]

Ditto LuvClana. Ditto. :cool:

Wow! Could Jan. 22nd be taking any longer to get here? Lol! :lol:

[chrisxs5]

I hear ya! They should go the 24 route and just play all episodes in a row. Whats really killing me, is I am already waiting for the season on DVD.

[smallvillereporter27]

I was so excited when my friend told me about Chris being on Heroes! I saw a trailer with him in it. It looks like it's going to be good and I hope he sticks around with the show for awhile.

[chrisxs5]

I saw 28 days Later and had always wondered what happen to that guy. I think he will be a good addition.