GAME OF THRONES and OBI-WAN KENOBI Actress Indira Varma Joins DOCTOR WHO

Game of Thrones and Obi-Wan Kenobi actress Indira Varma is set to join the next season of Doctor Who. She also previously appeared in the Doctor Who spinoff series Torchwood, but she will be taking on a new role, a mysterious character named The Duchess.

Varma said in a statement: “I’m thrilled to be in Doctor Who and particularly excited to be crossing cosmic paths with Ncuti, as the Doctor, and look forward to creating interplanetary mischief with him. I loved playing Suzie Costello for Russell T Davies in Torchwood so am thrilled to be entering this world again.”

Showrunner Russell T. Davies called The Duchess’ part “truly spectacular.” She will join the 15th Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, on his cosmic adventures, following the brief return of David Tennant as the 14th Doctor. The future season of Doctor Who also includes Millie Gibson as Ruby and Jonathan Groff (Mindhunters, Knock at the Cabin) who will play a key guest role.

Doctor Who will return in November 2023 with three special episodes that will see David Tennant return as the 14th Doctor to coincide with the show’s 60th anniversary, and Catherine Tate will also return as Donna. Gatwa’s first episode will air over the holidays. After that, Ncuti Gatwa will take over.

Davis discussed the journey leading up to the introduction of the 15th Doctor, saying: “If you thought the appearance of David Tennant was a shock, we’ve got plenty more surprises on the way. The path to Ncuti’s 15th Doctor is laden with mystery, horror, robots, puppets, danger and fun. And how is it connected to the return of the wonderful Donna Noble? How, what, why? We’re giving you a year to speculate, and then all hell lets loose.”

There is also a Doctor Who spinoff series in the works that will put a focus on the military research organization UNIT, which has appeared various times in the franchise since 1968. That series will star Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart, who has appeared in 10 episodes of Doctor Who since 2012. The spinoff will focus on Stewart running the organization.

When previously talking about his spinoff plans, Davies said: "So I thought — with no criticism whatsoever towards the people who were running it at the time, because they were running it within the BBC's measures — it was time for the next stage for Doctor Who. I thought the streaming platforms are ready, the spin-offs are ready; I always believed in spin-offs when I was there. I did Torchwood as a spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures as a spin-off. Those spin-offs declined when I left, and I can see why. And I very much left after 2008, when the money became scarce, I think that's fair enough for the public service broadcaster that the money is spent on other things."

Doctor Who will premiere exclusively on the BBC for the U.K. and Ireland. Disney+ will be the exclusive home for the new seasons of Doctor Who.

Varma is also set to appear in the upcoming Max series, Dune: The Sisterhood.

Source: Deadline