I’ve seen it suggested that the BBC wouldn’t go for McGann for the 50th, but who knows if that’s true. If anyone is to be blamed for the War Doctor, it’s Chris Eccleston. Though he’s well within his rights to want nothing to do with the show, it’s obviously different than every other actor who has had the role.
I disagree. He knew when he took the part of the Doctor what kind of role he was taking. He knew about the Three Doctors, The Five Doctors, and The Two Doctors. He knew about the legacy surrounding that part. If you are unwilling to take part in anniversary specials, you shouldn’t take the role in the first place. His absence from the 50th anniversary special is glaring.
He’s just an actor in a role. His responsibility is for the length of his contract.
I disagree. For normal roles, that is the case. The Doctor isn’t a normal role. Doctor Who isn’t a normal tv show. There is a legacy surrounding this show and that part. IMO, if you agree to take the role, it is your responsibility to appear in the anniversary specials. You don’t want to do that? Don’t take the role in the first place.
Fans might see it differently, but he is of course not a fan of the show and had a bad experience working on it.
If I am not mistaken, whatever people he had the bad experience with, were probably no longer with show by the time of the 50th anniversary. Btw, just what was the bad experience? Does anyone know?
As highly as we regard it, it is still just a TV show,
It is not a just a TV show, anymore than Star Wars is just a movie. The Fallguy was just a TV show, Falling Down was just a movie. Doctor Who and Star Wars are bit different than that.