Doctor Who's Matt Smith Is Headed Back to Space for Freaking Star Wars

Matt Smith is headed back to space in a big way! Variety reports that the actor, best known for his roles in the long-running sci-fi series Doctor Who and Netflix's royal drama The Crown, has been cast in Star Wars: Episode IX.

So far, there's no word on who Smith will be playing in the upcoming film, which is the final installment of the Skywalker saga. We don't even know which side of the war he'll be on. But his previous timey-wimey heroics in space as the Eleventh Doctor have us hoping he'll be able to bring some of that whimsy to the light side of the Force. However, his more dramatic work on The Crown has also proven that he can swing a darker character too.

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Smith joins a handful of other newcomers in a galaxy far, far away. Keri Russell, Richard E. Grant, Dominic Monaghan, and Naomi Ackie have all joined the film's growing cast, which of course includes Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver and Mark Hamill. Meanwhile, Billy Dee Williams is reprising his role as Lando Calrissian, and unused footage of Carrie Fisher will be used to depict Leia Organa's final chapter.

This bit of casting news also comes right on the heels of our first look at Tobias Menzies (Outlander, Game of Thrones) taking over Smith's role as Prince Philip in Season 3 of The Crown.

Star Wars: Episode IX is set to premiere Dec. 20, 2019.