Ncuti Gatwa is reuniting with his “Doctor Who” co-star Niamh Marie Smith to executive produce her new short film “Passing Through.”
Marie Smith, who featured in the 2024 “Doctor Who” Christmas special “Joy to the World” as Sylvia Trench, will star in the short alongside Gemma Laurie (“Shetland,” “The Long Shadow”) as well as write and direct. Becky Rossmaur, who worked in the casting department on “Doctor Who” and Russell T Davies’ “Tip Toe,” is on board as casting director.
Described as a “modern, queer take on a meet-cute,” “Passing Through” draws on the “chemistry and heart of timeless British rom-coms” and follows two strangers who “meet on a train station platform in December,” according to its synopsis. “A tender and hopeful story, the film explores grief, connection and the unexpected importance of seemingly small interactions.”
Of executive producing the film, Gatwa said: “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. ‘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.”
