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Ncuti Gatwa reunites with Doctor Who co-star for "modern, queer take on a meet-cute"
The short film will follow two strangers who “meet on a train station platform in December”.
Karwai Tang / WireImage
- Molly Moss
Published: Wednesday, 8 July 2026 at 3:23 pm
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Ncuti Gatwa is set to reunite with Doctor Who co-star Niamh Marie Smith on her new short film Passing Through.
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The actor, who played the Fifteenth Doctor in the BBC sci-fi series, is on board to executive produce the new project, according to Variety, which will follow two strangers who “meet on a train station platform in December” and is being billed as a “modern, queer take on a meet-cute".
Smith, who starred in the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World as Sylvia Trench, will appear in the short as well as write and direct. She'll be joined by Shetland’s Gemma Laurie.
Passing Through will also reunite Gatwa and Smith with Becky Rossmaur, who worked in the casting department on Doctor Who, as well as former Who showrunner Russell T Davies, who is set to serve as casting director.
Niamh Marie Smith as Sylvia in Doctor Who: Joy to the World. BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/Lara Cornell
Meanwhile, Sarah Boyks (Dekho) will be on producing duties, while Sunshine Hsien Yu Niu (Rock, Paper, Scissors) will serve as cinematographer.
On executive producing the film, Gatwa said in a statement: “I had the pleasure of working with Níamh on Doctor Who and was blown away by her talent and insight. So, I’m overjoyed to be joining this project as EP and work with such fresh new talent."
He added: "Passing Through is a beautiful script about human connection, grief and taking in the small pleasures of life. It’s really simple and beautifully layered at the same time and as soon as I read it my heart was warmed and I knew I wanted to be involved.”
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Smith, who previously directed the 2024 short film Aortic, added in a statement that she hopes to "platform stories and moments previously overlooked as ‘unimportant'."
She added: “This story is very close to my heart. I’m so grateful to be collaborating with this team of incredible creatives to bring it to life.”
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Authors
Molly MossTrends Writer
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
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