Other than its Time Lord characters, Doctor Who generally doesn’t tend to recast its major players, but one classic companion whose original actor has sadly passed away can now return to the franchise after a suitable replacement has been found. One of the most upsetting and harsh realities about of Doctor Who’s classic era is that it was so long ago, some of the original stars are incapable of reprising their roles. So, while there may be a demand to see more from certain characters, it becomes a matter of whether recasting the part is necessary and appropriate.
With a new actor in place for one of Doctor Who’s best companions of all time, their story can be added to in the coming run of episodes. So far, very little is known about Doctor Who season 15’s story. However, the ending of Doctor Who season 14 proves the show’s Disney era is not afraid to bring back characters from the original run of the iconic BBC sci-fi saga. So, the door is open for the return of an almost familiar face.
Doctor Who Has Already Cast Sadie Miller, Elisabeth Sladen’s Daughter, As Sarah Jane Smith
Miller has voiced her mother’s former character in Doctor Who audio adventures
Sarah Jane Smith, companion to various Doctors – including Tom Baker’s Fourth and David Tennant’s Tenth – was originally portrayed by Elisabeth Sladen. She reprised the role in 2006, shortly after the show was revived, after not playing Sarah Jane since 1983. The actress passed away in 2011 at the age of 65, before the final episode of her Doctor Who spinoff show had aired. Until a 2022 audio adventure, the character had respectfully been left alone, but Sarah Jane has now returned. This time around, she’s played by Sladen’s daughter, Sadie Miller.
Giving Miller her late mother’s former role is probably the most authentic way Sarah Jane could have been recast.
Giving Miller her late mother’s former role is probably the most authentic way Sarah Jane could have been recast. Although Miller is over two decades younger than her mother was at the time of her passing, Doctor Who’s premise means the actress could easily play Sarah Jane onscreen at a point in time from before the show’s 2004 revival. There is a lot of time unaccounted for in the character’s timeline, which Doctor Who’s Disney era could now easily address.
Sadie Miller Can Play Sarah Jane In Doctor Who Season 15 & Beyond
Ncuti Gatwa could team up with Miller for another Sarah Jane story
Recasting Sarah Jane may seem like an odd move, but the show has, on occasion, assigned new onscreen actors to characters before. For example, the First Doctor was originated by William Hartnell in 1963, but was played by Richard Hurndall in 1983’s “The Five Doctors,” and by David Bradley in “Twice Upon a Time.” So, it wouldn’t be unprecedented for Miller to be the second onscreen actress to play Sarah Jane. Therefore, a team-up with Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who’s Disney era isn’t impossible.