Recently a familiar Doctor Who writer admitted that there was a black actor who turned down the role of the Doctor. Now it seems that if he had taken the role, it would’ve been Matt Smith who was out of the job!

According to a report from the not-always-reliable Mirror, they have several sources who stating they were “100 percent confident” Chiwetel Ejiofor was offered the role of the eleventh Doctor before Matt Smith.

Neil Gaiman, who is most notably known for writing ‘The Doctor’s Wife’ in 2011 and also wrote ‘Nightmare in Silver’ this past season, recently took to Tumblr and said that he knows a black actor who turned down the role.

He wrote “I was rather disappointed that Paterson Joseph didn’t get it last time, although I’ve loved Matt’s Eleven.) And yes, I have no doubt there will be [a black Doctor]. (I know one black actor who was already offered the part of the Doctor, and who turned it down.) Just as there will be a female Doctor.”

Elsewhere on his blog when Gaiman was asked if Ejiofor was offered the role of the twelfth Doctor, he states that he in fact was not offered the latest reincarnation. This goes without saying, then, that Ejiofor was offered the role of the ever-so-loved Eleventh Doctor, and because he turned it down, Matt Smith was there to take his spot.

It makes us wonder what Eleven would’ve been like with Amy and Rory had Ejiofor been cast. What was his style going to be? It seems that we’ll never know. Although we absolutely look forward to a colored man (or woman) taking the role of the Doctor some day, we’re very glad that Smith got the chance to make it his own.

Can you imagine Chiwetel Ejiofor as the Eleventh Doctor?

Don’t forget: Doctor Who returns this fall on November 23 for the 50th anniversary special, followed by the Christmas special on December 25 where we’ll also get our first glimpse of Peter Capaldi as the 12th Doctor.