Actor Matt Smith, the current incarnation of the Doctor on -of course- Doctor Who, has confirmed he’ll return for the series 8th season in 2014 (or, depending on your point of view, the 34th season). While it’s been known for a while that Jenna-Louise Coleman was already set to continue playing current companion Clara for season 8, speculation on Smith’s future as the Doctor was in question.
While he enjoys playing the role, much like David Tennant, other roles beckon -Smith is currently filming his first US based movie in Detroit called How to Catch A Monster, which is the directorial debut of actor Ryan Gosling. And for some actors, especially ones in science fiction cult series like Doctor Who, there is always the sense that staying too long can damage the career. Even Tom Baker, who played the traveling Time Lord the longest, seven years, has now said he stayed too long.
“People are always going to ask because they care about the show.” Smith told The Sun’s TV Magazine. “But I take it year by year. And this year is going to be the biggest one in the show’s history.”
He’s already shot the 50th Anniversary Special and will return to Wales in July to begin filming the 2013 Christmas Special. Filming on season eight should begin towards the end of the year or early part of 2014, with a probable debut on TV sometime in fall of next year.
