The official BBC line on regenerations is that it's an open question after the destruction of Gallifrey. Thirteen was the traditional, usual number, but all bets are officially off according to FAQ.
As for the 'aging backwards' speculation, I don't think it holds water. People seem to be looking at the last five years rather than the series as a whole. One and Three were both sort of grandfatherly, though in different ways. Two was younger than both of them (and totally getting it on with Jamie), Four was younger than him, and Five was, up until now, the youngest of all the Doctors, old and new.
If you start with Five, they get older again until Eight, where they slip back up and hover around in the 30-40s range. Considering the new series' penchant for referencing the original, I'm inclined to say Smith is this generation's Peter Davison, not a symptom of any particular set of sensibilities.
Well, true. I'm mostly trying to apply logic when there isn't any besides availibilty, affordability and whatever personal/face-to-face impressions the casting director recived.
Having watched the confidential, the official line seems to be that he was an early stand-out, and that they kept coming back to him being ideal, and having that sort of Doctory quality they were looking for. Then again, I'm sure being cheap and available helps.
It also looks like Moffat had a direct hand in making the casting choice, and was present for auditions, so at least the showrunner/head writer's opinion was a factor.
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Date: 2009-01-05 04:14 pm (UTC)As for the 'aging backwards' speculation, I don't think it holds water. People seem to be looking at the last five years rather than the series as a whole. One and Three were both sort of grandfatherly, though in different ways. Two was younger than both of them (and totally getting it on with Jamie), Four was younger than him, and Five was, up until now, the youngest of all the Doctors, old and new.
If you start with Five, they get older again until Eight, where they slip back up and hover around in the 30-40s range. Considering the new series' penchant for referencing the original, I'm inclined to say Smith is this generation's Peter Davison, not a symptom of any particular set of sensibilities.
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Date: 2009-01-05 05:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-05 05:04 pm (UTC)It also looks like Moffat had a direct hand in making the casting choice, and was present for auditions, so at least the showrunner/head writer's opinion was a factor.