After months of speculation, it’s official: Disney+ will end its partnership with the BBC this year. doctor who After just two seasons and an upcoming spin-off, War on land and sea.
Disney’s partnership with the series began in 2023, just in time for the 60th anniversary and the reign of Nkuti Gatwa.
The BBC has confirmed the breakup, reassuring fans that the long-running sci-fi series is “not going anywhere”. The show is set to return in 2026 with an all-new Christmas special written by current showrunner Russell T. Davies, with future seasons and new animated projects aimed at preschool audiences already in the works.
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: “Disney has been a fantastic global partner over the past two seasons.” “We can assure our fans that the Doctor is not going anywhere.”
Prior to the announcement, the network had already denied tabloid rumors that the show would be canceled due to so-called “extraordinary circumstances” or that star Ncuti Gatwa would be leaving the show. The BBC said earlier this year: “This story is false.” “Doctor Who is not being shelved.”
Gatwa’s Resilience and the Show’s Queer Legacy
Gatwa, who made history as the first black and openly queer actor to play the Doctor, has faced backlash and overwhelming love since stepping into the iconic role. His debut film featured a romantic storyline with Rogue, played by Jonathan Groff, and was praised by many fans for advancing science fiction.
“I don’t think I’m the only black lead who takes over a science fiction series and gets treated like that,” Gatwa said. vanity fair. “Unfortunately, these are the voices that exist in fandom. But they are not the only voices.”
Rather than focusing on the negative, Gatwa continues to pay attention to the joy and community the series has brought. “I remember feeling so much warmth and love being accepted into a big family of nerds,” he said. “When I’m filming, Doctor Who, There are fans outside the studio and on location every time, whether it’s 4 a.m. or -12 degrees Celsius. ”
Gatwa said goodbye to the Doctor after the Season 2 finale. “This journey is one I will never forget and the role will forever be a part of me,” he said in a statement at the time.
Rumor has it that the next Doctor will be none other than Billie Piper, or indeed Rose Tyler. But instead of revealing her in the finale, the episode ended with a simple tease. “And I’d like to introduce you to Billie Piper.” We’ll have to wait and see what that means for the Whoniverse.
“It’s no secret how much I love this show. I’ve always said I’d love to go back to the Whoniverse because I have some of the best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to return to that TARDIS again was something I couldn’t turn down,” said Piper.
What’s next for the TARDIS?
What’s the Doctor’s next adventure? There will be new worlds, new faces, and other queer, timely, and wimmy storytelling throughout the 2026 Christmas Special and beyond. doctor who Lives for over 60 years.
Because, as Davis once said, doctor who It never really ends.
Source: Gayety – gayety.com
