Like the Tardis, Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center is a lot bigger than it first appears, and the 12th Doctor intends to fill it. In his Comic-Con debut, Peter Capaldi will be headlining BBC America’s Doctor Who panel in the cavernous Hall on July 9. This year’s fanboy and fangirl megafest runs July 9-12 with the preview night on July 8.

“Tales of San Diego Comic-Con are told in awe on every set around the known fantasy/sci-fi production world,” said Capaldi, a longtime Doctor Who fan. “It’s become a fabled kingdom, one I am thrilled to find myself heading for. And to appear in the legendary Hall H is a further twist to the cosplay and comic madness I may never recover from.”

Joining the man who plays the 12th Doctor on the Comic-Con panel will be co-stars Jenna Coleman, who plays Clara Oswald and Michelle Gomez, who plays Missy, the female incarnation of the Doctor’s enemy the Master. Head writer and EP Steven Moffat and fellow EP Brian Minchin will be there too. Moffat’s appearance could indicate that there also will be a Sherlock panel this year as he runs that fan fave show too.

Doctor Who debuted back in 1963, with the first Doctor played by William Hartnell. Capaldi formallly took over as the Time Lord last year from Matt Smith, who had appeared at Comic-Con during his tenure. The new season of Doctor Who premieres in the fall with a two-part episode, “The Magician’s Apprentice” and “The Witch’s Familiar,” written by Moffat, produced by Peter Bennett and directed by Hettie Macdonald. Doctor Who is a BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC One and a BBC America co-production.

The appearance of the Doctor is the first major Comic-Con announcement this year, but hold on to your electronic screwdrivers and capes, because more are coming soon