Ben Wheatley To Usher In Peter Capaldi's Dr Who Generation With First 2 Eps

Ben Wheatley has been handed the enviable task of helming the first two episodes of the new Dr. Who series, which will feature a new Timelord in the shape of Peter Capaldi, who was unveiled as the new Doctor when Matt Smith hung up his Sonic Screwdriver. The director – known for his feature films – has worked on TV, and with the BBC before.

He directed 14 episodes of the Johnny comedy Ideal. He was also behind The Editors’ music video for Formaldehyde, but it was his movies, Down Terrace, Kill List and most recently, the critically acclaimed A Field in England, that thrust him to prominence.

“I am very excited and honoured to be asked to direct the first two episodes of the new series of Doctor Who," Wheatley says in an interview with ScreenDaily. "I’ve been a fan since childhood (Tom Baker is my Doctor if you are asking) and I’ve been watching the current run of Doctor who with my son and have discovered it all over again."

Capaldi, perhaps most widely known for his role as the acerbic, all-swearing political spin-doctor Malcolm Tucker on Ian Ianucci’s The Thick of It, was bestowed the honour of portraying Dr. Who in light of Smith’s unexpected exit.

"The work that has been done is amazing. I’m really looking forward to working with Peter Capaldi and finding out where Steven Moffat is planning to take the new Doctor," added Wheatley. Smith will appear once more as The Doctor in the upcoming Christmas special. Capaldi and Wheatley’s combination will be seen next Autumn.