Steven Moffat, known for his work on ‘Doctor Who‘ and co-creating ‘Sherlock,’ recently shared his experiences and views at the Toronto International Film Festival.
With a Christmas special titled ‘Joy to the World‘ on the way, Moffat is set to become the writer with the most episodes of ‘Doctor Who’ under his belt, reaching fifty with this release.
Moffat humorously highlighted the unique aspect of ‘Doctor Who,’ where the lead can be replaced, unlike most other shows. This feature, he pointed out, adds a playful complexity within the community, especially among the actors who have previously played the role.
Each actor, including David Tennant, believes they are the quintessential Doctor, which Moffat finds both amusing and challenging.
During the festival, Moffat discussed the concept of storytelling through reboots, using ‘Doctor Who’s’ regenerations as a prime example. He believes all stories are essentially reboots, where new storytellers reimagine characters and plots in their unique ways.
He mentioned James Bond as another example, comparing Bond to Richard Hannay from John Buchan’s novels, noting Bond’s more vibrant romantic life.
Moffat also touched on the realism of detective stories versus true crime, joking that Sherlock Holmes wouldn’t solve actual crimes because real-life criminals often lack cleverness.
He cited a police officer friend who attributed crime-solving to the foolish mistakes of criminals, suggesting that there are easier, albeit less dramatic, ways to make money legally, like banking.
Reflecting on his tenure as the showrunner for ‘Doctor Who,’ Moffat described the intense scrutiny and criticism that comes with the job.
Despite being labeled in numerous negative ways, he recognized it as part of the role’s challenges, noting that his successors faced similar issues.
Moffat sees himself and his fellow showrunners, including Russell T. Davies and Chris Chibnall, as ordinary, amiable individuals far from the controversial figures some perceive them to be.
