Ncuti Gatwa’s commitment to filmingDoctor Whocost the actor a role in a strong 2024 Oscar contender. Gatwa is best known for playing theFifteenth Doctor inDoctor Who. The show recently dropped a new Christmas special episode, “Joy to the World,” and will return for season 15 in 2025. Gatwa is reprising his role in the upcoming season, which will arrive on both BBC and Disney+.
Following Gatwa’s casting as the titular Time Lord in 2023, he made hisDoctor Whodebut in the 60th anniversary specials. Aside from headlining the long-running fantasy sci-fi series, the Rwandan-Scottish actor appeared in two episodes as Lt. Robert H. Daniels onMasters of the Airand 32 episodes as Eric Effiong onSex Education. He also starred in Greta Gerwig’srecord-shattering 2023 movie,Barbie, where he played one of the Kens. In 2024, moviegoers almost get to see Gatwa in another critically acclaimed movie.
Gatwa Dropped Out A Real Pain Due To Schedule Conflicts
Gatwa Was Originally Cast As Eloge
Written, directed, and headlined byThe Social Network’s Jesse Eisenberg,A Real Painis a comedy-drama about two cousins going on a trip in Poland in honor of their grandmother. The critically acclaimed film amassed $9.3 million at the box office with a limited theatrical run against a $3 million production budget and wasnominated for four Golden Globes Awards (1 win). With Oscar nominations coming next week, there’s a high chance thatA Real Painwill be in the mix.
In an interview withCollider, Eisenberg reveals that they initially cast Gatwa as Eloge, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide who has converted to Judaism, played by Kurt Egyiawan. The writer-director explains that they wanted tohonor the culture and history Eloge comes fromto cast a Rwandan actor. He originally had Gatwa on board for the movie, but due to a schedule change, theDoctor Whoactor couldn’t commit. The director then turned to his real-life friend, Eloge, who he based the role on, to help with the casting. Check out what Eisenberg said below:
With Kurt, I tried to cast a Rwandan actor. The only Rwandan actor we met with was this brilliant guy, Ncuti Gatwa. He’s the current Doctor Who, and he was going to do the movie, but then Doctor Who’s schedule changed and so we lost him. And so we were looking for a Rwandan actor, it was really hard to find a Rwandan actor. Kurt’s family is Cameroonian and, at that point, I turned it over to Eloge, the real Eloge, and said “Can you help me cast this so this feels respectful to your culture?”
What This Means For A Real Pain
Eisenberg’s Casting Refects A Real Pain’s Effort To Make Characters Feel Seen
Eloge is based on Eisenberg’s real-life friend. With history and culture being a crucial part of Eloge’s character, Eisenberg’s effort to ensure that the character wouldn’t be misrepresented shows the respect he has for his friend, “the real Eloge,” and his awareness ofcultural appreciation and appropriation in filmmaking, which didn’t go unseen inA Real Pain, a film that explores history, complicated family dynamics, and generational trauma. Since its release,A Real Painhas received praisefrom critics.
Eisenberg previously spoke about his friend, Eloge, who he praised as “a truly brilliant person.” The director sheds more light on the character, Eloge, inA Real Pain, who is brilliantly played by Egyiawan (House of the Dragon,The Agency). He explained thatEloge’s choice to pick Judaism had everything to do with his past. Having been through genocide, Eloge connects to another culture that has been through “similar” experiences.
A Real Pain
Cast
A Real Pain explores themes of identity and loss as two estranged families confront their shared and tumultuous pasts. Through intertwining narratives, the film delves into the complexities of familial relationships and the enduring impact of unresolved grief.
