Jonathan Groff Joining Doctor Who In Mysterious New role
Jonathan Groff, famous for Glee and Frozen, will be part of Doctor Who's next season.
Variety reports that Jonathan Groff will be boarding the TARDIS for the next season of Doctor Who in a “key” role, though the identity of his character has yet to be revealed. The storied BBC sci-fi series, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary this November, is in a recovery mode at the moment, having seemingly lost its way under showrunner Chris Chibnall. Though the 13th Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, was a historic and well-liked star, the franchise’s writing and direction were widely decried by fans during Chibnall’s tenure in charge of its past three seasons.
A star like Jonathan Groff guest-starring on Doctor Who certainly bodes well for in the new season, which is being headed up by fan-favorite showrunner Russel T. Davies. Davies’ presence is just one signal that the BBC is committed to getting the legendary show back on track, as is the brief return of the beloved Tenth Doctor, David Tennant. Tennant appeared in the finale of Season 13 as Whittaker’s Doctor unexpectedly regenerated back into a previous form, making Tennant both the Tenth and the Fourteenth Doctor.
But Jonathan Groff will be starring alongside Doctor Who‘s already-announced 15th Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, who was announced before Tennant’s return in a bait-and-switch move that caused both confusion and delight. Sex Education star Gatwa’s run is highly anticipated and will begin after three special episodes celebrating the 60th anniversary of the franchise. Starring Tennant and, returning as his popular companion Donna Temple-Noble, Catherine Tate, the three episodes will set up what is expected to be a roaring return for the time-and-space-hopping adventure franchise.
Featuring an American actor such as Jonathan Groff is a bit unusual for Doctor Who, which usually draws its talent from its home in the U.K. Best known for his roles in Glee, Hamilton, and the Frozen films, Groff will be a boon for the series, and the reveal of his mystery role is highly anticipated. But Groff is not the only well-known celebrity coming to the storied sci-fi serial.
Jonathan Groff might well be sharing his Doctor Who episodes with Jinkx Monsoon, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5 and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, who has also been announced as having a major role in the upcoming season. The famous drag queen‘s inclusion in the cast is another signal that the TARDIS is attracting stars, as well as flying past them. What role Monsoon will play has also yet to be revealed, so we don’t know yet whether they will be interacting with Goff’s character, but the presence of these celebrities is all part of what appears to be a Doctor boom.
Beyond Jonathan Groff, Tennant, Monsoon, Gatwa, and Tate being on-board for upcoming Doctor Who episodes and seasons, the franchise also has multiple spin-offs coming, all under Davies’ ultimate leadership. Following previous series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, the new spin-offs might include such elements as a return for former companion Nyssa and a teaming of Tennat’s Doctor with Matt Smith’s well-loved Eleventh Doctor. Davies has yet to be forthcoming with such specifics, but if his previous work is any indication—and it is—the Doctor is in good hands.
