Though Matt Smith’s role as a young Palpatine clone was mysteriously excised from the final cut of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, he’ll soon get a second chance to play something pale and wrinkly in a new animated special, Superworm.

The BBC is adapting Superworm from a 2012 children’s book by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler, the author and illustrator team better known for the immensely popular property The Gruffalo. The Oscar-nominated Magic Light Pictures, who also adapted the latter title for the screen in 2009, will produce this tale, which tells the story of… actually there’s probably no need to explain it, you already get the idea from the title. There is an evil wizard with a crow henchman in it though!

The 11th Doctor will be joined by the likes of Olivia Coleman and Rob Brydon, with the special eyeing a Christmas 2021 release.

Source: Deadline