As well as Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa era being over, the BBC has now also announced that it's moving forward without Disney, as their agreement has come to an end and won't be renewed. So, Doctor Who itself is coming back to screens for Christmas 2026, but it seems very unlikely at this point that Gatwa will be restored to the role of the Fifteenth Doctor.
After making his debut in 2023's "The Giggle," Gatwa went on to lead Doctor Who for two full seasons and two Christmas specials.
His final appearance came in "The Reality War," where Fifteen appeared to regenerate into someone very much resembling Billie Piper's Rose Tyler. However, there are many reports that suggest Gatwa's exit came sooner than originally planned. In the wake of the BBC's recent announcement, the actor's departure now seems even more disappointing.
The news of Doctor Who's renewal now makes Gatwa's exit seem unnecessary
I really enjoyed Gatwa's time as the Doctor, and I was looking forward to the prospect of at least one more season with him as Doctor Who's leading man. From the various comments he'd made during his run, it sounded as though he was nowhere near deciding to step away after "The Reality War," at least originally. Certain storylines, like the long-awaited return of Carole Ann Ford as Susan, also seemed set up to continue for Gatwa's Doctor going forward.
Despite all these clues, Gatwa was handed a regeneration sequence at the end of his second season, which may have been filmed as part of the rumored reshoots that were carried out to bring Gatwa's era to a close after principal photography on the original script had concluded. I'm not convinced the actor's exit in "The Reality War" was part of the initial blueprint, but was rather a reaction to the show's uncertain future.
The deal with Disney was intended to take Doctor Who to the next level on the world stage, but things didn't exactly go to plan. Uneven scripts and uncharacteristically glossy production values put many long-standing fans off, and Disney was left with a tricky decision to make when it came to renewing its ever-expiring deal with BBC. Until recently, it remained an outside possibility that the two studios would continue to collaborate, but it's now been confirmed that they'll part ways after the upcoming UNIT spinoff airs.
The show being stuck in limbo like it was must have made it very unappealing for Gatwa to stick around and wait to see if his reign as the Doctor would continue or not, and I understand that. I'm sure this could have factored into his decision to cut ties with Doctor Who prematurely, if that is indeed what happened. Still, the fact that BBC is now continuing the saga means Gatwa could technically have stayed on as the Time Lord, but I don't blame him if his patience ran out as other acting opportunities were passing him by.
Could Gatwa still come back when Doctor Who returns in 2026?
Doctor Who is coming back for a Christmas special next year, and news of another full season is expected to arrive anytime soon. In addition, showrunner Russell T Davies is the one writing the script for the first episode since "The Reality War." At the moment, that's pretty much all we know about the show's comeback after months of uncertainty.
The biggest question on the lips of all Whovians is: "Who'll be playing the Doctor?" The sad truth of the matter is that it's impossible to know at the moment. Davies could certainly roll with Billie Piper, if he wants to commit to that strange twist, or he could introduce an entirely new version of the Doctor. Alternatively, he could use some sci-fi narrative trickery to give Gatwa one more outing, so Fifteen can have a more fitting end to his Doctor Who arc.