If Marvel, Netflix, Warner Bros, Disney and DC Comics can do superheroes, then why not the BBC and Doctor Who? This year’s Christmas Special, The Return Of Doctor Mysterio, will see the Doctor teaming up with New York masked crime fighter Doctor Mysterio in a new adventure set in the wonder of a wintery Big Apple.
The Doctor may well be used to being the centre of attention when it comes to dramatic heroics, but this Christmas he’ll possibly have to share the world-saving plaudits with another doctor, which could make for some pretty interesting dialogue. Either he’s going to embrace him as a potential lifeline to hand over some of the responsibility for the safety of the earth, or he’s going to strut around like a threatened cockerel at the sight of a new entrant to the coup, flicking up hen poo with abandon and crowing to the moon like a wild banshee.
Set to air on Christmas Day, as ever, the 60-minute standalone seasonal episode will also be one of the Doctor’s few outings without an official companion. With Jenna Coleman’s Clara Oswald written out of the show in Series 9 and Pearl Mackie not set to debut until Series 10 kicks off in 2017, he’ll have to make it through the Christmas special alone.
OK, so he won’t be completely alone, as he’ll also have Doctor Mysterio’s help, but with an alien invasion poised to threaten the iconic city, he could probably do with as many friendly faces as possible. Luckily, the caped comeback kid and the grey-haired Time Lord also find themselves under the scrutiny of an investigative journalist who gets wrapped up in the adventure with them, making it a tri-state defence against the alien horde.
Doctor Mysterio, or Grant as he’s known when he’s not rocking the midnight mask look, will be played by Justin Chatwin, who’s previous credits include starring alongside Tom Cruise in War Of The Worlds in 2005 and his part in Canadian sci-fi thriller Orphan Black. Peter Capaldi and Chatwin will be joined by Charity Wakefield (Wolf Hall) as the investigative journalist, as well as Matt Lucas, who return to the series, following his last appearance in last year’s Christmas special, The Husbands Of River Song. The cast for The Return Of Doctor Mysterio is completed by Adetomiwa Edun (Lucifer), Aleksandar Jovanovic and Logan Hoffman.
Filming has already been completed for the show and you can see some of the results of it in the first look behind the scenes video of the Christmas special below. It looks like a big budget extravaganza and with a New York setting, it could see Doctor Who going on to pick up even more of a US fan following going forward. If the end product is as good as the initial shots of the episode in the video below then The Return Of Doctor Mysterio should be another great Christmas blowout.
