The actor, who played the Twelfth Doctor from 2013 to 2017, will appear in a recurring guest role as the Hulu hit moves its mystery from New York to London. According to Deadline, Capaldi is the latest in a growing group of actors associated with the British sci-fi series to join the new season.
Peter Capaldi Joins a Growing ‘Doctor Who’ Connection
Capaldi will share the sixth season with Jodie Whittaker and David Tennant, both of whom have also portrayed the Doctor. Whittaker succeeded Capaldi as the Thirteenth Doctor, while Tennant famously played the Tenth Doctor before returning to the role as the Fourteenth.
Jim Broadbent adds another layer to that connection. Although he never played the Doctor in the main television series, Deadline noted that he portrayed an alternate version of the Eleventh Doctor in 1999 “Doctor Who: The Curse of Fatal Death.”
The casting also fits the broader direction of Season 6, which is taking Charles, Oliver and Mabel far from the Arconia. The trio will investigate a new mystery in London after the previous season left them with the apparent death of true crime podcaster Cinda Canning. Production on the season began in London in May.
The move across the Atlantic has also brought a substantial group of British and Irish performers into the series. Along with Capaldi, Tennant, Whittaker and Broadbent, the sixth season features Nicola Coughlan, Richard Ayoade, Adrian Lukis, Martin Freeman, Sharon Horgan, Derek Jacobi and Olivia Colman among its additions.