Neil Patrick Harris, best known as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, is joining the cast for Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary Special. Courtesy of The Radio Times, Harris is currently filming scenes for the show’s 60th anniversary, which airs in November 2023. Russell T Davies described the “huge honour to open our studio doors for the mighty Neil Patrick Harris… but who, why, what is he playing? You’ll just have to wait. But I promise you, the stuff we’re shooting now is off the scale. Doctor beware!”
Davies, who succeeds current showrunner Chris Chibnall from 2023, teased via his Instagram that Harris would play “the greatest enemy the Doctor has ever faced.” Having worked with Harris on Channel 4’s acclaimed It’s A Sin, Davies hailed the 48-year-old as “a great actor, such a great man, it’s an honour and a hoot. Have fun!”
In a post to announce the news, Neil Patrick Harris revealed a photo of his unnamed character in costume. Details of who Harris will play remain a mystery. “My current gig. Never looked more dashing” the Matrix Resurrections actor captioned the post, promising that he’d try his “hardest to do my worst. This Doctor has no idea what’s in store.”
Harris dons a spotty bowtie, red apron, spectacles, crazy scientist hair, and a tool belt with pliers and other things. Naturally, the Doctor Who fandom is rife with speculation on who Harris could be playing. Contenders include the Master, quite obviously, considering Davies’ statement.
Surprisingly, one fan suggested the Celestial Toymaker, a villain from William Hartnell’s third series in 1966. As recently reported by FlickLuster, Ncuti Gatwa will be taking over from Jodie Whittaker as the Fourteenth Doctor in Doctor Who. Furthermore, Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney joined the cast in May.
For more Doctor Who content, take a look at Flickluster’s review for “Legend of the Sea Devils.”
