While news broke last week regarding Shameless star Justin Chatwin joining the Doctor Who Christmas Special, at New York Comic Con 2016, BBC America revealed more details about the character. A tradition that’s been going on every Dec 25 since 2005, this year’s Christmas Special looks like it’s got something “super” in store.
Taking a somewhat different direction than the usual Doctor Who style, this year there will be a superhero in the mix. The hero, played by Chatwin, looks like he has superpowers that, judging by the sneak peek shown at New York Comic Con on Friday, may include super speed and super strength.
Here is a first look at the #DoctorWho Christmas Special. This Christmas, the Doctor will be back in The Return of Doctor Mysterio. #NYCC pic.twitter.com/xBZ4dvUCyc
— BBC America (@BBCAMERICA) October 8, 2016
Also revealed during the panel was Chatwin’s superhero costume, which looks fantastic — if somewhat borrowed from an Arrowverse hero. According to earlier reports, the superhero will be bold and brash and will be using his American accent. Whichever way you slice it, this new superhero costume is definitely very cool, and we can’t wait to see how the character fits into the Whoniverse.
Meet a new hero from the #DoctorWho Christmas Special, played by guest star @Justingchatwin. #NYCC pic.twitter.com/wtTz9a4d3w
— BBC America (@BBCAMERICA) October 7, 2016
Return of a Special Guest
This Christmas Special will also be without the new companion, Bill (Pearl Mackie), who will start her adventures with The Doctor when series 10 airs in April next year. But The Doctor is hardly rolling solo this Christmas. Other than the mysterious superhero, Matt Lucas is reprising his role as Nardole and providing some comic relief in the episode. But unlike his previous appearance, this time, “there’s a lot more layers to him,” said head writer Steven Moffat during the NYCC panel session, “he’s even a little bit sinister at times which is really fascinating.”
While you could argue that the regenerating Gallifreyan Time Lord is a kind of superhero, rarely do people in Whovian circles throw the term around. We are interested to see how this new superhero plays against the time-traveling Doctor and whether fans will be open to this unexpected new direction. We’ll just have to wait and find out on Christmas Day when “The Return of Doctor Mysterio” airs on BBC America.