'Doctor Who' Season 9 Release Date, Cast News: Actor From 'Game of Thrones' Joins Cast
BBC's science-fiction television series "Doctor Who" is set to return for its Season 9 this year, with a "Game of Thrones" cast member joining as a guest star.
The hit series will be released in Autumn and is currently filming in Cardiff, Wales, Den of Geek! Reported last week.
There is no official premiere date yet, but the good news is that there might be no mid-series breaks for the upcoming season.
"We're not going to do splits,"said Steven Moffat, head writer and producer of "Doctor Who," adding that "the same format will repeat exactly the following year like that. So it will be the traditional form."
Actor Paul Kaye, who plays Thoros of Myr in the HBO fantasy drama series "Game of Thrones," is set to join Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman and the rest of the "Doctor Who" cast in a two-parter to play a character named Prentis.
"As a kid of the 1970s, the two shows you always watched were 'Top of the Pops' and 'Doctor Who.' They were unmissable. I actually wrote a song called 'Looking for Davros' in my first punk band and I sang it like a demented Dalek. I got to present TOTP back in the mid '90s and landing this role in 'Doctor Who' completes the dream double. Peter is a perfect Doctor and I'm loving every minute of the experience, even the five hours in make-up. What a treat, best 50th birthday present ever!" Kaye said.
Morven Christie, Archer Ali, Colin McFarlane, Sophie Stone, Zaqi Ismail, Steven Robertson and Neil Fingleton will be joining Kaye in the said two-parter that will be directed by Daniel O'Hara.
Moffat also said that Michelle Gomez is expected to return as Missy.
There is no news yet if series regulars Neve McIntosh, Caitlin Stewart, Dan Starkey, who play as the Paternoster Gang (Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax) will also return.
The season's first episode is titled "The Magician's Apprentice."
While Moffat will be running the show and retain his post as head writer, it was reported that Toby Whithouse has written two episodes for the series, a "brilliantly creepy two-parter" and "one of our scariest adventures yet," Moffat said.
Neil Gaiman ("The Doctor's Wife," "Nightmare In Silver"), however, is not expected to write an episode for the upcoming season.
"I'm not writing for series nine right now, just because of ridiculous work commitments I'm trying to get out from under," Gaiman told Radio Times.
He is however, "determined to write for Peter Capaldi. As long as Peter is 'Doctor Who,' I will write for him. And every time I'm in the U.K., I go and see the 'Doctor Who' people. I go see Brian Minchin and Steven Moffat, and none of us are going to let me go off the boil."