The BBC released the first official trailer of the upcoming season of "Doctor Who' while series star Peter Capaldi also made his debut at Comic-Con on Thursday, describing the experience as "cosmic."
The 57-year-old actor joined co-stars Jenna Coleman and Michelle Gomez as well as executive producer Steven Moffat to discuss his journey as the time-traveling doctor so far and even to drop hints as to what the new season could bring.
One of the main topics on the panel was the surprising revelation that Missy is a female personification of the Master.
"I think he or she or it is everybody's idea of the kind of the best villain you could have. It's kind of like the best friend that you love to hate," Gomez said."She just has a kind of attitude where the rules don't apply to her and that's makes it really fun to play."
However, she and the Doctor should be deemed as much more than foes.
"They are friends. That's the terrifying thing," Moffat said. "It's a relationship between a vegetarian and a hunter."
Fortunately, the Doctor and Clara will be working towards a more united approach this coming season.
"They're very much a team," Coleman shared. "After the end of last series, they found their groove and they're very united in the Tardis eating up all of time and space with reckless abandon."
Clara will also be getting busy this season when she tries to teach the Doctor some key interpersonal skills.
As for guest appearances on "Doctor Who' season nine, Moffat was silent about "Game of Thrones' star Maisie Williams joining them in one of the upcoming episodes, particularly the fifth one titled "The Girl Who Died.'
The first two episodes will reportedly be titled "The Magician's Apprentice' and "The Witch's Familiar.' Both are written by Moffat and helmed Hettie Macdonald, and will put forward the return of Gomez's character, Missy.
"(The Doctor) is in pursuit of joy and grabbing every thrill that he can along the way. But I sense him running from something, that even he does not yet understand"¦," Capaldi added, describing the possibilities that could come up for his character.
The hit series has already drawn in major ratings for BBC America, with the last season becoming the most popular among viewers in the U.S. as it reached out to approximately 2.3 million viewers.
"Doctor Who' returns to the screen for its ninth season on Sept. 19. Its first official trailer can be viewed below.
