Summary
Doctor Whoactor Jonathan Groff reveals which belovedStar Warscharacter inspired how he approached crafting the character and personality of his intergalactic bounty hunter Rogue. In theDoctor Whoseason 14adventure, Rogue is sent to 19th-century England to track down a shape-shifting Chuldur that could throw Earth into chaos, only to cross paths with Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday. Despite starting things off poorly, the Time Lord and bounty hunter join forces, eventually falling for one another.
AsDoctor Whoseason 14 prepares to enter its season finale, Groff reflected on the preparation he took to bring Rogue to life during the latest episode ofDoctor Who: Unleashed. When seeking inspiration for how he should approach playing a space-faring gun-for-hire with a little-nonsense attitude and charming side,Groff pulled inspiration fromStar Wars' own Corellian smuggler Han Soloto bring the unlikely ally and love interest to life. Check out Groff’s full explanation below:
So, Rogue is an alien bounty hunter. So I’ve been thinking a lot about Han Solo from Star Wars. We find ourselves meeting in this world and teaming up to destroy a common ally. And in the process of that, open up to each other, get a bit vulnerable, and have a connection at the same time that we’re having an adventure.
Rogue Is Doctor Who’s Best Han Solo-Esque Figure
Doctor Whohas no shortage of gun-totting intergalactic wanderers drifting through time and space that could easily draw comparisons to Han Solo. From the formerTime Agent-turned-crafty conman Captain Jack Harkness(John Barrowman) whom the Time Lord inspires to stand up for what’s right no matter what, to Alex Kingston’s Professor River Song, who brings together Han’s quick reaction times with a blaster with the archaeological mind of Ford’s other notable role, Indiana Jones. However, there are certain elements of both the character’s personality and backstory that make the parallels between Rogue and Han more obvious.
Like Han,Doctor Who’s newly debuted Rogue takes on dubious odd jobs across the cosmos, aiming to make a quick payday no matter what the cost may be in their starships that have seen better days. However, deep down each character has a softer side, and can sometimes put on an act to keep up appearances, from Rogue’sDungeons & Dragonsinspired-persona, to Han’s somewhat estimated record-setting Kessel Run completion boasts.Even Rogue’s bond with the Doctorcan strike up comparisons to Han and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), as two people from different worlds find love when facing incredible odds.
No matter how many small ways each character can be compared to one another, it is clear Groff succeeded in creating a new, captivating character for theDoctor Whomythos. Despite his single appearance so far, Rogue is shaping up to be one of season 14’s most celebrated additions, making Groff’s inspirations an ideal choice. While his future may be unknown, hopefully, the character can be reunited with the latest incarnation of the Doctor.
Doctor Whoreleases new episodes every Friday simultaneously on Disney+ for international audiences and BBC iPlayer for UK viewers.
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Doctor Who: Released on Jul 22, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
