Doctor Who returns later this year, with Russell T Davies back as showrunner after first taking charge of the beloved series in 2005. He won't be the only familiar face we see, of course, as David Tennant returns to play the Fourteenth Doctor with Catherine Tate as his companion Donna Noble.
During a recent conversation with Entertainment Weekly (via SFFGazette.com), Davies was asked why he chose to return to the BBC series after an extended absence which saw a number of showrunners put their own unique spin on the iconic sci-fi franchise.
"The real answer is that I still love it," he enthused. "You do spend your years away from Doctor Who, always watching it. Always thinking of ideas. Thinking about how I would expand it, thinking of stories. It never goes away. I have been inventing stories in my head ever since I was about six. So when I left the show, that doesn't stop."
As for why bringing Tennant and Tate with him before Ncuti Gatwa takes over as the Fifteenth Doctor felt like the right move, Davies added, "I realized that there was third act to be written, and it was so much fun writing it. On a really simple level, it's working with two of the best actors in the world."
"I love them. I love them as friends. I love their presence," he continued. "I'm really interested to push the Doctor and Donna into things they've never done before."
Everything we've seen from Davies' return to the franchise suggests the franchise is set to receive a much-needed overhaul, and casting Hollywood stars like Jonathan Groff and Neil Patrick Harris is sure to increase interest among casual viewers and non-fans alike.
With the show heading to Disney+ outside the UK, Doctor Who will soon reach a bigger audience than ever before. With that comes what's thought be a significant budget increase, and that should help it feel more in line with The Mandalorian and Star Trek: Discovery, for example, with the next few years for Whovians shaping up to be very exciting indeed.
Tennant's Doctor will take centre stage this holiday season over the course of three specials titled "The Star Beast," "Wild Blue Yonder," and "The Giggle."
Joining him, Catherine Tate, and Yasmin Finney are Neil Patrick Harris as a villain thought to be The Toymaker, Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble, Karl Collins as Shaun Temple, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham, and the late Bernard Cribbins as Wilfred Mott.
We also have some new Doctor Who stills - including a first look at Beep the Meep - which you can check out below.