'Doctor Who' Series 12: Release date, trailer plot, cast, and everything else you need to know about the sci-fi classic's new season
‘Doctor Who’ is returning for a 12th series, to the joy but not necessarily surprise of fans. The sci-fi show, which ran for over 25 years in its original run before being brought back on air in 2005, has proven to be one of the weirdest, wackiest and most wonderfully human shows on television, despite its lead character being a semi-immortal alien.
"We’re off again!" said showrunner Chris Chibnall. "Well, we never actually stopped – as Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and friends have been winning the hearts of families across the nation this autumn, we’ve been busy with a whole new set of action-packed adventures for the Thirteenth Doctor."
Series 11 introduced the female Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker, who has proven that her appearance is more than just a gimmick and that this version of the Doctor is just as important as her male counterparts.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new series:
Release date
Filming was officially announced to have begun on January 23, 2019. The BBC has confirmed that New Year's Day special 'Resolution' will be the only ‘Doctor Who’ episode to air in 2019, according to Digital Spy. The British sci-fi show will premiere on January 1st, 2020 on BBC America with a two-part special, 'Spyfall'. Now if only we could steal a TARDIS and skip ahead to the premiere.
Plot
Series 12 will have to resolve the admittedly few loose threads left hanging by the previous series, one of which is the identity of the “Timeless Child”.
Chibnall has hinted that Yaz (Mandip Gill) will have a bigger role to play in the next series. The writer/producer reportedly has a "five-year" plan for ‘Doctor Who’. He has made it clear that he wanted to make a clean break from the work of the previous showrunner, Steven Moffat, and give the show a fresh start with the last season. That means no more appearances from classic villains like the Cybermen, the Daleks and the terrifying Weeping Angels.
Hopefully, series 12 will bring back at least a few of the fan-favorite villains considering ‘Resolution’ technically brought back the Daleks - specifically one battered Dalek who had more in common with Russel T Davies’s lonely prisoner than with Moffat’s gleaming cyborg exterminators. Chibnall did drop a hint that said as much, saying: "Further hatred intensifying [between the Doctor and her enemy]... with more Daleks, probably!"
As for possible comebacks for more old foes, the showrunner has hinted, "Maybe we'll do some more... I'll have a think!" One set of iconic villains who we know are returning for the new series are the rhino-like intergalactic police-for-hire known as the Judoon.
"The Judoon are storming back into Doctor Who in full force, and the streets of Gloucester aren't safe," said Chibnall. "If anyone has anything to hide, confess now. The Judoon are taking no prisoners, and will stop at nothing to fulfill their mission.”
Cast
Jodie Whittaker
The Thirteenth Doctor will obviously be returning for the 12th series. The fans may still be divided about having a female Doctor, but Whittaker has managed to give a fresh spin to the iconic Time Lord. She confirmed her return to The Hollywood Reporter saying, "I really can’t wait to step back in and get to work again."
The BBC has confirmed that the full TARDIS crew will also be returning – with Bradley Walsh (Graham), Tosin Cole (Ryan) and Mandip Gill (Yaz) all set for more crazy trips through time and space.
Showrunner
Chris Chibnall
Chibnall is best known for his work on BBC’s ‘Broadchurch’, a show that also featured Whittaker and Tenth Doctor David Tennant as well as former companion Arthur Darvill. He has made it clear that his time on the show will be a new era for ‘Doctor Who’. Gone are the grand unifying story arcs and in their place we now have self-contained episodes that serve a semi-educational function. While not all the fans are thrilled by the change, Chibnall is ready to continue with his fresh take on the classic show.
Trailer
BBC has unveiled some footage from the upcoming series 12. And from the looks of things, it’s all getting a bit serious for the Doctor…
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