‘Only Murders in the Building’ Welcomes Third ‘Doctor Who’ Star Peter Capaldi

Hulu’s Emmy-winning murder mystery comedy continues to impress with its star-studded cast, and Season 6 is shaping up to be its most ambitious yet. With the show making its first-ever move from New York City to London, ‘Only Murders in the Building‘ has been unveiling a remarkable ensemble this summer.

This London shift has opened the door for a host of British and Irish talent, starting with the addition of David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker in June. Both actors have strong ties to ‘Doctor Who,’ with Tennant known for portraying the Tenth and Fourteenth Doctor, and Whittaker making history as the Thirteenth Doctor, the first female lead in the franchise. They join a growing recurring cast that already features Nicola Coughlan, Jim Broadbent, Richard Ayoade, and Kathryn Hunter.

Now, the show is enhancing its ‘Doctor Who’ connections even further. According to Deadline, Peter Capaldi has joined the Season 6 cast, marking the third actor with ties to the iconic British sci-fi series to join this season. Capaldi previously portrayed the Twelfth Doctor before passing the TARDIS keys to Whittaker in 2018.

Capaldi’s casting adds an intriguing layer to the already complex web of franchise history among the show’s guest stars. Whittaker directly took over the role from Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor, meaning these two actors, who literally passed the same fictional role between them, are now part of the same murder mystery ensemble.

Even Jim Broadbent, confirmed for the season, has his own loose connection to ‘Doctor Who,’ having voiced a version of the Eleventh Doctor in the spoof special ‘The Curse of Fatal Death.’ With Tennant, Whittaker, Capaldi, and Broadbent, ‘Only Murders in the Building’ has effectively created its own mini ‘Doctor Who’ reunion within an unrelated show.

Details about the characters for the new London-based cast members remain closely guarded, consistent with how the series has previously revealed celebrity guest roles. Given the show’s history of casting recognizable actors as suspects, victims, or red herrings, fans will likely speculate on how Capaldi and his fellow ‘Doctor Who’ alumni fit into the story as the release approaches.

Season 6 will pick up directly from the shocking Season 5 finale, which resolved the murder of the Arconia’s doorman Lester while introducing a new central mystery involving the murder of podcast rival Cinda Canning, played by Tina Fey. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez will return as Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, continuing their investigation beyond their usual New York apartment building for the first time.

Alongside Capaldi and the previously announced British ensemble, the season’s recurring cast already includes major names like Martin Freeman, Sharon Horgan, Simone Ashley, and Geri Halliwell-Horner, creating one of the largest guest rosters the show has ever assembled. Production is currently underway in London, but Hulu has yet to announce an official premiere date for the new season.

Given how consistently ‘Only Murders in the Building’ has turned celebrity cameos into some of its most talked-about twists, Capaldi’s addition only raises the stakes for uncovering the mystery of who’s guilty this time around.

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