When Ncuti Gatwa was introduced as the Fourteenth Doctor earlier this year, the Doctor Who fandom went into a frenzy of enthusiasm. The last remaining mystery was how long it would be until viewers saw this Doctor. The Hollywood Reporter suggests that the wait may not be as long as some had predicted. Filming for Gatwa’s debut season on the classic series is set to begin in November. Loyal viewers of Doctor Who, especially during the COVID period, have had to wait years in between seasons, much to their chagrin. The announcement that Gatwa would finally start production this year is therefore welcome news to many viewers.
A premiere date for the second season has not been announced. As it was previously revealed that a special episode will air in late 2023 to commemorate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, some fans are worried that Gatwa’s season won’t premiere until 2024. Fans can only guess at what this casting of Gatwa means and be thrilled about it for the time being. Former Doctor 13 Jodie Whittaker, who will be succeeded by Gatwa, will be saying goodbye to her position later this year.
A special episode airing in October as part of the BBC’s centennial celebrations will mark the conclusion of her four-year run in the post. Once again, it’s up to fans to speculate endlessly until the programme airs on whether or not Gatwa will make an appearance in this special. In a statement released in May, after his casting was confirmed, Gatwa said:
My large tongue makes it difficult to maintain secrets, so I’ve known about the part since February of this year.
But now that I’ve done it, and now that we’ve done it together, I feel incredible. A genuine honour indeed. This part is legendary, and it means a great deal to me and countless others. All parties involved benefit from the increased sense of inclusion and appreciation this provides. I, too, am appreciative of the opportunity and will do my best to carry the torch on. If you’re a huge Gatwa fan but can’t bear the thought of waiting until 2024 to see him again, I promise it will be worth it.
Sex Education, on which he also stars, has indicated that he would return as Eric for the upcoming fourth season even though his casting on Doctor Who will not interfere with production for that show. In addition to his appearance in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, the actor also has a secret part in the upcoming AppleTV+ military drama Masters of the Air.