Ncuti Gatwa Replaces Matt Smith In Update To 2013 Doctor Who Special

Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor shares a heartwarming scene with David Bradley’s William Hartnell in an official reedited rebroadcast of the Doctor Who drama, An Adventure In Space and Time, replacing Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor. Written by series writer Mark Gatiss to celebrate the 50th anniversary in 2013, the drama starred Bradley alongside Jessica Raine, Sacha Dhawan, and Brian Cox. An Adventure in Space and Time explores the development of Doctor Who, from the show’s conception by Verity Lambert (Raine) and Sydney Newman (Cox) to Hartnell’s departure.

To mark sixty years since Doctor Who first aired in 1963, BBC Four aired a re-edited version of An Adventure in Space and Time with a touching new addition.

As shared by Discussing Film on Twitter, Hartnell sees a vision of future Doctor Gatwa when filming his final scene as the First Doctor for his 1966 story “The Tenth Planet,” winking and smiling with the original actor before inputting commands into the TARDIS console. Gatwa’s appearance replaces Smith from the drama’s original 2013 release, who was, at the time, the current actor to play the Time Lord.

Ncuti Gatwa’s Updated An Adventure In Space and Time Cameo Perfectly Enshrines The Final Scene’s Message

While Gatwa had previously teased that he had filmed scenes alongside the First Doctor actor, the actor’s addition to An Adventure in Space and Time came as a pleasant surprise. Upon BBC Four’s scheduling for November 23, revealing the behind-the-scenes Doctor Who drama would be repeated, it had been noted that the special had a shorter runtime, speculated to be due to re-edits regarding ongoing rights issues surrounding the first episode of Doctor Who. However, Gatwa’s new appearance is a welcome update that aligns perfectly with the scene’s original message.

In An Adventure in Space and Time, Hartnell is heartbroken by having to step down as The Doctor due to failing health, as Newman hopes Doctor Who can live on beyond him. The following Doctor Patrick Troughton (Played by Reece Shearsmith) was already set to take on the role. But as Hartnell films his final scene, he sees a vision of Gatwa’s upcoming Doctor that reassures him that the series and role he adored is in safe hands, as the duo share a smile before interacting with the original console prop that Hartnell had painstakingly learned to operate. While Smith fulfilled the role in the original broadcast, Gatwa’s addition cements the scene’s message that the show would have a lasting legacy by including the Doctor, who will help usher in its next era.

An Adventure in Space and Time was a perfect addition to Doctor Who‘s 50th-anniversary celebrations, as Bradley would play the First Doctor himself in the main show. Among its retelling of the show’s early developments, Hartnell’s final scene with Smith remains highly impactful, as the First Doctor shares a moment with the star who helped keep the series going. As such, Gatwa’s addition is not only a surprise debut for his Doctor but a surprisingly sweet continuation of the drama’s message.