Amy Pond and her husband Rory will return to Doctor Who during the revived show’s seventh series in 2012, but will exit by mid-season, according to showrunner Steven Moffatt. He intoned darkly about a tragic exit for the only long-term companions to appear during Smith’s entire run as the Doctor, which will be entering its third series next fall, when the show resumes broadcasts.

So maybe Amy and Rory can move to the US and go hunting for dining room furniture Los Angeles-style. Or not.

That much is confirmed, and Moffatt has promised that Smith will gain at least one new companion in the second half of the second series, but is remaining mum as to any hints of that companions gender, as well as any other details.

What is not officially confirmed, but highly rumored, is that Smith may exit the show soon, as well. Some say this could happen as early as the end of series seven, the upcoming 2012 season.

All these exits raise the question of whether the actors will be involved in the much-rumored Doctor Who feature film BBC is hoping to launch, or whether their exits are designed to allow for the new Doctor and companions to be in place by the timeframe of the feature film’s release.

Time will tell. Especially with The Doctor.