Dr. Who stars play to packed hall at Comic-Con

SAN DIEGO - Comic-Con-going fans Of Dr. Who were given a rare treat when they packed a hall at the San Diego Convention Center to hear stars Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Michelle Gomez spill the secrets on the series' upcoming 9th season. A quick look at the trailer that was played to the rapt audience reveals that The Doctor and Clara, having the time of their lives, will meet new and old monsters, and go on a journey that takes them to foreboding alien planets, eerie underwater bases, a global Zygon uprising and more. For his part, Capaldi still marvels that he's a part of the franchise, let alone the titular star. "Well, it's the only show that I think is in my bones very deeply, it's the only show that I've followed since I was 6 years old, so although... I think people always have a very intimate relationship with the program, 'Dr. Who,' even though it now exists on this scale, which is huge and wonderful, it's the only show that I've ever been in that I really knew and loved, and even when I went... I did an episode with David Tanner, it was fantastic, and I was so excited to be there, and I thought that would be my only contribution, the only time that I would get to be in 'Dr. Who' and I remember showing up on the set, and saying to him, 'David, David, where's the TARDIS?'" Jenna Coleman, who plays Clara, mentioned to the audience the chemistry she shares with Capaldi. "In a way, we kind of, we found a groove together, and I feel like we are on really equal terms, it both helped drive the TARDIS, but I helped drive the TARDIS... I pressed a lot of buttons and Peter looks at me. I tried to, I get really over-excited, and I just see Peter being very cool just staring at me across the console going 'no'...." Previously announced and taking up a guest role in the new season will be Maisie Williams, having already achieved success for her role as Arya Stark in "Game of Thrones." Michelle Gomez (Missy) returns to plague the Doctor and Clara in the season opener, reprising her role as the series' biggest villain, the Mistress, or Missy. "It's just a thrill to turn up and to be given this opportunity to be the master, it's just still sort of a pinch me moment, really. So I just hope that as long as I knew my lines and I could turn up on the day, that some little bit of magic would happen, and it's just... we're really lucky that the dynamic between the three of us was sort of instantly really seemed to work," Gomez said. Also back this year are UNIT with Jemma Redgrave and Ingrid Oliver (Osgood) returning to season nine following their popular entrance in season eight. Also confirmed as guest cast in the new series are Rebecca Front, Rufus Hound, Paul Kaye, Joivan Wade and Sophie Stone. -Reuters