Just weeks ago, we learned that ‘Doctor Who’ Season 12 would include guest appearances by Robert Glenister and Goran Višnjić. At that time, Višnjić reacted by saying:
“I’ve always been a huge fan of Doctor Who, so when the offer to play one of my favorite people in history came, it made me so happy to be part of the show. And it turned into this awesome, dream job!”
Now it has been revealed that Glenister and Višnjić will be co-starring in the same episode, portraying a pair of famous rivals from history. Glenister plays Thomas Edison opposite Višnjić’s Nikola Tesla. These two pioneered the development of alternating current electricity.
At the time of his casting announcement, Glenister declared:
“I first appeared in ‘Doctor Who’ in ‘The Caves of Androzani’ at the tender age of 24 in 1984. 35 years later I got to be in it again at the not so tender age of nearly 60. How time flies!”
Speaking to the AV Club, showrunner Chris Chibnall was asked about Glenister’s return and how he and Višnjić factor into the new adventures of The Doctor:
“Yeah, he’s already been in one of the greatest ever stories of Doctor Who. So your knowledge is excellent. You get another five gold stars. Yeah, from ‘The Caves Of Androzani’, which was apparently his second ever screen appearance, I’ve been told. I’ve worked with him previously on a film, ‘The Great Train Robbery’. He’s just one of the greatest British actors, to be honest. So, again, he hadn’t been in 21st century ‘Doctor Who’, so it was a great opportunity to bring him in. He plays Thomas Edison in a story about Nikola Tesla. Tesla is played by Goran Višnjić, so we’ve got a couple of amazing acting heavyweights in that episode, going toe-to-toe. He’s a beautiful, beautiful actor, Robert, and I’m really pleased he said yes to that and it’s a lovely little nod to the past, going, ‘Oh, you go all the way back to Peter Davison’s last story’.”
‘Doctor Who’ Season 12 debuts on BBC One/BBC America on New Years Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2020. The second episode arrives on Sunday, January 5, and all subsequent episodes will air in the usual Sunday night time slot.
