“Doctor Who’s new companion might have a deeper story than you think”

Doctor Who has successfully completed its transition from a British cultural institution to a global sci-fi phenomenon. The longest-running sci-fi series moved to streaming services with Disney+ (and reset its season count), with the return of showrunner Russell T. Davies, who rebooted the series in 2005. The first season of this new version had it all: musical numbers, babies in space, a Bridgerton pastiche, and a classic found-family story. The announced spinoff is in the works, but what's next for the show itself?

Davies brought stars Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson to San Diego Comic-Con to discuss what lies ahead Doctor Who – and announced big revelations for Season 2.

Doctor Who has already filmed season 2, which means the cast can't remain a secret. So it's been a while since we knew the Doctor's next companion. AndorVarada Sethu will join the Doctor and Ruby Sunday in the TARDIS and during the panel, Russell T. Davies revealed her character's name: Belinda Chandra.

Hardcore fans of the “Whoniverse” may know this name. The children’s television spinoff from 2007-2011 The Adventures of Sarah Jane There was a character named Rani Chandra, but the resemblance could be a coincidence. Doctor Who constantly reuses actors—even Sethu himself appeared in the season one episode “Boom”—so it's likely that names will be reused as well.

She is not the only new addition to the cast. Millie Gibson announced that The little mermaid Actor Jonah Hauer-King will “accompany Ruby on her journey.” Could this mean a possible love story for her character?

But the most exciting revelation about Doctor Who in Hall H there was a foretaste of the upcoming Christmas special “Joy to the World”, written by the iconic Doctor Who Writer Steven Moffat. The footage follows Nicola Coughlan as Joy, a mild-mannered girl who checks into a hotel for Christmas only to find a Silurian and the Doctor himself bursting out of a mysterious locked door. Watch the full teaser below:

“Barbie and Ken together again!” said Ncuti Gatwa about working with Nicola Coughlan after her roles in Barbie. “She's an absolute… star, that's what I'm going to say,” he continued cryptically. This could be a reference to Joy's role in the special. When the Silurian bursts into her room, he says, “The starseed will bloom and the flesh will rise.” Is Joy the “starseed” he's referring to?

Season 2 of Doctor Who There may be more characters added, but this new look at the Christmas special shows you don't have to wait until the season premiere for more Doctor Who action – another classic story is coming just a few months away. “Christmas is a great time for family, no matter what kind of family you have, whether it's your real family or your chosen family or your made-up family,” said Russell T. Davies. “There's something that fits Doctor Who about the.”

Doctor Who is now streaming on Disney+.