We are only one episode into Peter Capaldi’s final season on Doctor Who and already a new rumor has sprung up regarding who may be replacing him as the titular character. According to a “show insider” for The Mirror Online, the next actor to take up the mantle of the Doctor is Kris Marshall, of Love, Actually and Death at a Funeral fame. Prior to this new rumor, bookmakers had made bets that James Bond alums Ben Whishaw and Rory Kinnear were at the top of the list of potentials for the 13th Doctor, alongside Richard Ayoade, Miranda Hart, and Tilda Swinton. That said, according to the source for The Mirror Online, the BBC was always looking for a male replacement for Capaldi.

“They won’t risk a woman Doctor.  They want a David Tennant type.”

Regardless of whether or not the rumor is true, fans of Doctor Who will be seeing the ‘death’ of Peter Capaldi’s Doctor sooner than expected. According to a statement Capaldi made on the Graham Norton Show, he has already filmed the death scene which is slated to take place at the end of the season, despite previous reports that his regeneration would take place during the 2017 Christmas special. Capaldi has further cemented this by stating that he still needs to return to film the Christmas special. The show insider has also confirmed that Kris Marshall “has already joined the cast and will regenerate at the end of this series, not in the Christmas special.”

This year marks Peter Capaldi’s fourth year on Doctor Who. The first episode of Doctor Who Season 10, titled The Pilot, aired on April 15. The episode introduced viewers to Doctor Who’s first openly gay companion, Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie. While Capaldi’s performance as the Doctor is coming to a close at the end of the season, it is currently unknown how long Bill, who has already become a fan favorite, will stick around for. That said, each of the Doctor’s companions tend to stay on for at least two seasons, so fans of the show will be able to see Bill interact with the upcoming 13th Doctor, whomever it may be.

So, what are your thoughts on Kris Marshall possibly becoming the 13th Doctor?  Did you have a different actor in mind for the role? Let us know in the comments section below and, as always, stay tuned to DFTG for all the latest gaming and entertainment news! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for our 24/7 news feed!