Paul McGann Broods Handsomely In the Trailer for Period Crime Thriller 'The Undertaker'
We always love to see the Doctor Who alumni network thriving. From David Tennant (Good Omens) and Matt Smith (House of the Dragon) to Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Jenna Coleman (Wilderness), it feels like every time you turn around these days, there's a former Doctor or companion starring in some new project. But it's particularly lovely to see the classic Who cast doing new things, especially Paul McGann who perhaps deserves a boost of modern-day popularity more than most.
And the former Doctor — McGann played the eighth incarnation of the famous Time Lord in the dreadful made-for-TV movie that basically killed the franchise for the better part of a decade — certainly feels as though he's in the middle of something that feels an awful lot like a career renaissance. If we're honest, it's about time; the failures of the Doctor Who movie were hardly his fault and he made an excellent Eight, as evidenced by the continued success of the ongoing Big Finish audio adventures featuring his Doctor. From his onscreen Whoniverse returns in both the 50th anniversary prequel, "The Night of the Doctor" and Jodie Whittaker's (One Night) Season 13 swan song "The Power of the Doctor" to roles in shows ranging from Luther to Annika, it certainly feels as though the second act of Paul McGann is finally upon us. (And I'm about it, is what I'm saying.)
His latest project is The Undertaker, a period crime thriller that's dripping with noir vibes and dark threats. Set in Northern England during the 1960s, the film follows the story of funeral director Arthur Morel (McGann), who finds himself in a moral crisis after getting caught up in the nefarious business of a local gangster. Pressured to bury his victims without filing the proper paperwork and thus keeping their deaths from the eyes of the police, Morel plans to use the large amounts of cash he's been promised to finally retire. But when the crime lord's latest killing spree escalates out of control, Morel realizes he must take a stand — or he'll most likely find himself as his next victim.
