Benedict Cumberbatch supports a female ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes’

Since BBC made the announcement that actress Jodie Whittaker was going to take over the mantle for Peter Capaldi as the next Doctor Who, there has been a lot of backlash on the internet. Like, a lot a lot.

While Whitaker's involvement should be cause for celebration and seen as a step in the right direction, there have been certain internet fan-boys who have no reacted to the news so warmly. However, Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch has recently voiced his support for Whitaker.

“It’s an alien,” said Cumberbatch in an interview with Variety. “Why can’t it be a woman? Why can’t it be any gender? It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t speak as someone who has the right as a fan to have an incredibly strong opinion. I just speak as someone who wants to see Jodie Whittaker’s performance as the doctor. I think she’s an extraordinary actress and we’re lucky, culturally, to have got her to agree to do it, let alone any debate ensuing about whether it’s right or wrong.”

Cumberbatch was then asked whether he would be okay with Sherlock Holmes — whom he portrayed for BBC in the popular show Sherlock — being played by a woman. "Why not?” Cumberbatch replied. “I don’t care. ‘Sherlockina’ is coming to you soon!”

Good for you, Cumberbatch. Female-led properties are all too often heavily criticized at their initial announcement before anyone has ever actually seen the final product, and this is the kind of support that is needed.

Check out Whitaker in Doctor Who at some point during 2018, and see Cumberbatch in his newest film with Michael Shannon, The Current War, on Nov. 24, 2017. And, obviously, be on the look out for ‘Sherlockina.’

Benedict Cumberbatch supports a female 'Doctor Who' and 'Sherlock Holmes'