Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney to play as Rose Tyler in ‘Doctor Who’
It appears that a major character in Doctor Who has been recast for the long-running sci-fi series’ upcoming 60th anniversary special.
BBC confirmed that Yasmin Finney, recently known for her breakout role in Netflix’s Heartstopper, has joined the cast of Doctor Who as Rose Tyler, the original companion of The Doctor during the reboot's first two seasons.
The studio said that the actress is currently filming scenes for the time travel drama’s special episode slated to come out in 2023.
“If anyone would have told 8 year old Yasmin that one day she’d be part of this iconic show, I would have never in a million years believed them,” she said in a statement.
Finney added: “This show has a place in so many people’s hearts, so to be seen as a trans actress by the legend himself, Russell (Davies), has not only made my year, it’s made my life. I cannot wait to begin this journey and for you all to see how Rose blossoms. Get Ready.”
Rose, originally played by Billie Piper during the sci-fi series’ reboot in 2005, is one of the fan-favorite characters in the show. She first appeared alongside Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor and departed amid David Tennant’s tenure as The Doctor.
Prior to the 50th anniversary, the story arc of Piper’s Rose ended when she was pulled into a parallel universe during the Battle of Canary Wharf. Up to this day, it is considered by many as one of the iconic moments in the franchise as Rose realizes that she's forever separated from Tennant's version of The Doctor.
“Life on Doctor Who gets brighter and wilder, how can there be another Rose? You’ll find out in 2023, but it’s an absolute joy to welcome Yasmin to the Doctor Who set. We all fell in love with her in Heartstopper, one of those shows which changes the world - and now Yasmin can change the Whoniverse!” current Doctor Who showrunner Russel T. Davies said.
The latest casting news comes on the heels of another major announcement that Tennant and Catherine Tate are also joining the highly-awaited Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary special.
“They're back! And it looks impossible—first, we announce a new Doctor, and then an old Doctor, along with the wonderful Donna, what on earth is happening?" Davies said.
Tennant, Tate, and Finney are expected to join Sex Education actor Ncuti Gatwa, who is replacing Jodie Whittaker’s 13th Doctor next year.
Gatwa is the first Black male actor who will play the titular role in the franchise’s almost 60-year history. Aside from Gatwa, British actress Jo Martin previously played her version of the Doctor in several episodes of Whittaker’s stint as the Time Lord.
With more than 800 episodes spanning five decades and 13 regenerations, BBC’s science fiction program is indisputably the real “OG” of time travel shows. The iconic British series lasted from 1963 to 1989 and had undergone a much-needed reboot in 2005.
Doctor Who follows the story of an eccentric Time Lord only known as The Doctor. The two-hearted alien fights monsters, solves mysteries and travels through time and space with his companions on board the Time And Relative Dimension In Space or simply, the TARDIS.