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Doctor Who Gets Deadly in the First Trailer for the New Year's Special

Plus, the show has been renewed for Season 12!

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Amanda Bell

The trailer for Doctor Who's New Year's special is here, and it looks like the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) -- along with companions Ryan (Tosin Cole), Graham (Bradley Walsh) and Yaz (Mandip Gill) -- will be facing down the world's deadliest threat across all centuries.

Although we don't yet get to find out its name, the Doctor reveals they've discovered the "DNA of the most dangerous creature in the universe." After an incredulous Graham speaks for all of us with a befuddled "What?!" she explains, "It's been buried on Earth since the 9th century. It's not going to stop until it's taken control of this planet. It's gonna kill anyone that gets in its path."

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We don't get to see said baddie -- unless it's just a giant fireball, of course -- but we do get to see its influence scattered throughout time, from a charging army of ancient soldiers to a car swerving all around thanks to an apparent case of road rage. Extreme, violent anger seems to be the common theme between these images.

We'll find out whether the Doctor and her trio of sidekicks will be able to stop this destructive force when the special airs on New Year's Day at 8/7c. Until then, Whovians can rejoice over the news that the BBC has renewed the sci-fi series for Season 12. The network revealed Sunday the new season would debut in early 2020, with everyone returning to man their stations in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

Showrunner Chris Chibnall said in a statement that he would return, alongside the principal cast. "We're off again! Well we never actually stopped -- as Jodie Whittaker's Doctor and friends have been winning the hearts of families across the nation this autumn, we've been busy with a whole new set of action packed adventures for the Thirteenth Doctor. We adore making this show and have been blown away by the response from audiences, so we can't wait to bring more scares, more monsters and more Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole to BBC One. Brilliant!"

Doctor Who airs Sundays at 8/7c on BBC America.

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