"Doctor Who" is coming back for its ninth season — 35th for those who have been watching since its inception in 1963 — and Peter Capaldi has been confirmed by BBC to once again portray the Twelfth Doctor with Jenna Coleman as his companion Clara.
It was previously rumored that Coleman would no longer be reprising her role in the series, but she did come back for the Christmas special and she will be in the opening episodes of season 9. How long she plans to stick around has not yet been confirmed.
Also cited by DenofGeek is the return of Michelle Gomez as Missy.
Showrunner Steven Moffat stated, "Everybody hide — Michelle Gomez as Missy was an instant hit last year, so she's straight back to plague the Doctor and Clara in the series opener. But what brings her back into their lives is the last thing they'd expect."
Moffat, who confirmed that the series will return with a two-part opening, wrote the premiere episodes titled "The Magician's Apprentice" and "The Witch's Familiar." Meanwhile, writer Mark Gatiss is also contributing in the writing department, and it is possible that his episode would bring the Doctor back to a darker, grittier side.
Gatiss told the Telegraph, "It has been a tough nut to crack, but I'm delighted with how scary it is. I can't say any more than that."
Moffat commented on this by stating that the Twelfth Doctor does have a "Scottish gloom" about him and that the team is going to play off with that aspect in the ninth season of the show without losing any of the humor that "Doctor Who" is known for.
Also to make an appearance in the upcoming season is "Game of Thrones" star Paul Kaye, who plays Thoros of Myr in the hit HBO series. He is slated to portray a character named Prentis.
Season 9 episode 1, "The Magician's Apprentice," is slated to air this autumn.
