Doctor Who has been around for decades, but in 2024 it made its debut on Disney+, flush with an infusion of cash from the media giant. The new, refreshed series expanded its horizons to a worldwide audience, with a budget big enough to tell stories with more scope and scale than ever before.
Despite the BBC's collaboration with the House of Mouse, the newest season — starring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifthteenth Doctor — recieved mixed reviews. Episodes ranged from fantastic, such as "73 Yards," to highly disappointing entries like "Space Babies." In terms of viewership, it didn't completely satisfy Disney's gargantuan desires, but showrunner Russell T. Davies is on record of saying it excelled in its target demographic. Moreover, Doctor Who will return later this year for its second season at Disney. Plus, a spinoff, The War Between the Land and the Sea, is in the works.
In a recent interview with Radio Times, BBC execs John Hamer (production executive) and Vanessa Hamilton (brand director) discussed the future of the Whoniverse, teasing many more years of adventures in time and space ahead.
"It's been brilliant," Hamer said. "It just shows that the passion for Doctor Who as a brand, as a character in the world, it just keeps on going. And it can keep regenerating each time – a cheesy line but it can! Each new era in Doctor Who gives us something new, and a different take on it, and different take on the character, and reflects the audience itself."
He also explained how the financial backing from Disney has been a game-changer for the series. The BBC has always had a limited budget; it is publicly funded through TV license fees, after all. "Doctor Who's always – not struggled – but it's hard to get the financial backing to realize writers' visions," he said. "You do the best with what you can. [The new budget] has elevated that, in a sense, in that you can create [this world] a bit more convincingly than in 1963."
In addition, brand director Vanessa Hamilton spoke about the franchise's loyal, dedicated fanbase. Doctor Who is one of the longest-running shows in television history for good reason. Episodes from decades ago still feel relevant. "I've been watching classic Doctor Who, in order. What other show has this long of a shelf life, that people will still watch content from the 60s and then hop to 2013 and all around? I think for us, it's about celebrating all of the different ways that people love Doctor Who."
"From a brand point of view, that's what we want to lean into, that Doctor Who means so many things to so many different people, but it's all a bit different."
Even though the future of Doctor Who's big budget, high-scope co-production with Disney is somewhat uncertain, one thing is for sure: the show won't end if that connection is severed. And even if one day content stops being made, the show's legacy is too immense to be forgotten. "Doctor Who will always be around in people's hearts and minds, and it'll never go away in that respect," Hamilton explained. "It's been around for 60 years. It'll continue to be around for as long as people love adventures in space and time."
Will you be watching Doctor Who when it returns to our screens later this year? Tell us in the comments down below!
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