Karen Gillan, who’s made a big name for herself in the high-energy cinematic universes Guardians of the Galaxy and Doctor Who, has… Source She was excited to discuss all her hopes and dreams for this amazing new adventure. Based on her recent appearance on the podcast Podcrushed, Gillan’s enthusiasm for this opportunity to explore a new romantic comedy genre seems genuine. The podcast is hosted by Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari.
Gillan shared that she’s long had a passion for rom-coms. She always recounted her happy teenage years spent in Scotland. During that period, she was obsessed with the movie The Wedding Planner, starring Jennifer Lopez. She especially liked being the only person in the theatre. At that screening of the film, she had a special experience.
I would love to do a rom-com again. Just going to put that out into the universe,” Gillan said, hinting at her eagerness to return to lighter content after a series of intense roles.
As much as she’s excited about romance in film, Gillan opened up about her love for horror movies. She is a huge lover of Stephen King adaptations and has given special praise to The Shining. She conceded that for all of her passion for these films, she has never read a single King novel.
What’s really bad is that I can’t read non-psychology books. It’s the one thing I can actually get through,… It’s a buried shame, Gillan said, lifting the curtain on her preference for psychological literature over fiction.
Gillan at the L.A. premiere of her new film, The Life of Chuck, on June 2, 2025. In this highly anticipated project, she stars opposite Tom Hiddleston and it promises to be a welcome non-horror adaptation of a Stephen King tale. The film demonstrates a delightful new side to Gillan’s dramatic skillsets. It provides her the opportunity to escape her traditional confines as a black actress in action and horror genres.
Gillan is well-known for her roles in horror and superhero films. She has been comfortable with lighter projects over the years to boot. In 2013, she played the lead in Not Another Happy Ending, and in 2017, had a supporting role in Alex & the List. Even though these experiences have enriched her versatile portfolio, they haven’t stopped her from fighting to make more romantic comedies.
Gillan shrewdly works her way through a career that has her looking to expand into other creative fields. Her lack of ego matches her ambition to test herself even as she remains grounded in her application as a creator inspired by the dual modes of horror and romance.
