Cult News Wrap: Teen Wolf, Star Trek, Doctor Who and The Vampire Diaries

Karen GillanA round up of smaller stories from the world of cult and sci-fi including; Bianca Lawson lands a role in Teen Wolf, Karen Gillan speaks about her exit from Doctor Who and Benedict Cumberbatch defends Sherlock and lands himself a role in Star Trek 2.

Noel ClarkeThere was more casting news for Star Trek 2 this week as two British actors signed up the J.J Abrams sequel. Noel Clarke was first to be announced as having bagged himself a role in the film. The actor played Mickey Smith, the on/off boyfriend of Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), in the first two seasons of the revived Doctor Who. Clarke reprised the role for the season four finale Journey’s End and David Tennant‘s last story, The End of Time (Part Two). Benedict Cumberbatch will reportedly play a villain in the new Star Trek movie; he is currently appearing in BBC One’s Sherlock and will also be in Peter Jackson’s two Hobbit movies alongside Martin Freeman.


Actress Bianca Lawson has signed up for a multi-episode stint for the second season of MTV‘s Teen Wolf which stars Tyler Posey and Crystal Reed. Lawson will play the school’s guidance counsellor in the drama. Lawson will be familar to genre fans for her role of slayer Kendra in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and witch/servant Emily Bennett in The Vampire Diaries.


Karen GillanKaren Gillan has spoken of her relief at the news of her forthcoming departure from Doctor Who is now public. Late last year it was confirmed that Gillan and co-star Arthur Darvill will exit Doctor Who during its next season and a new companion would be introduced. Speaking on The Graham Norton Show the actress said ‘I have known for ages that I am leaving and it’s such a massive relief that it is out and I can speak freely about it. I’m back next year for a few episodes but it’s not actually confirmed when I go’.

Asked if her character of Amy Pond maybe killed off the actress replied ‘I don’t know, it could be possible’. Showrunner Steven Moffat has already stated that Rory and Amy’s story will come to a ‘heartbreaking end‘ so could the duo be killed off? It wouldn’t be the first time either character will have been killed within Doctor Who though admittedly Rory has been killed more times than Amy so far in his travels with the Time Lord.


Miranda HartMeanwhile speculation has already begun over who will play the Doctor’s next companion. There will probably be months and months of said speculation until casting is officially announced so expect plenty more names to be linked to the series. The first high profile name to be suggested is Miranda Hart, by Bleeding Cool, who has her own BBC comedy series, self titled Miranda. The comedy has been promoted to BBC One following a successful run on BBC Two. Hart is also appearing in BBC One’s new 1950s drama Call the Midwife. It’s also been reported that James Corden could once again reprise his role of Craig Owens from The Lodger and Closing Time. At the moment though it appears it’s most likely for a one-off episode and not a full time companion.


Kat GrahamThe Vampire Diaries actress Kat Graham has revealed more details about the arrival of Bonnie’s mother Abby (Persia White) to Mystic Falls. Bonnie is reunited with her estranged mother in forthcoming episodes of The CW drama and they’ll be plenty of tension between the two. Graham teased E! Online ‘[Her] mother was out of her life for 15 years and… her father didn’t really want to be involved in any of this mess.  They’ve still yet to introduce him so them bringing in the mum before the father is for a specific reason and it really makes sense for the storyline and what they need right now.’

Find out what Vampire Diaries producer Julie Plec had to say about the return of Abby Bennett to Mystic Falls here >>


Benedict CumberbatchBenedict Cumberbatch has defended the inclusion of nude scenes in last week’s episode of Sherlock, A Scandal in Belgravia. The return of Sherlock to BBC One was a ratings success with over 8 million viewers watching but not all were happy with the appearance of nude scenes before the watershed. Unsurprisingly the Daily Mail seized upon such complaints giving them another chance to bash the BBC. The Daily Mail even published photos of the offending scenes to ensure their readers knew what the fuss was about. Lead actor Benedict Cumberbatch has defended the said scenes, find out more here >>

You can watch a preview for tomorrow evening’s episode of Sherlock, The Hounds of Baskerville, here >>