Since Doctor Who season 15 wrapped with a shocking regeneration, there have been questions about what’s to come next. A lack of immediate renewal has led to fears that after another 20 years, Doctor Who will be canceled once more.
However, there have been discussions that suggest that’s not the case. What’s not clear is whether Disney will still be part of the venture. BBC seems to be happy with the audience numbers, and there could be another season on its way.
Bad Wolf Productions head Jane Tranter is continuing to dispel the fears that Doctor Who has been canceled. However, that doesn’t mean it’s coming back right away.
It’s a matter of ‘when’ and ‘how’ for Doctor Who
The rumors of the cancellation started when the Doctor Who season 15 finale brought a regeneration we were not expecting. Up to this point, Ncuti Gatwa seemed to want to stay in the role. Suddenly, the finale saw him exit the role, with Billie Piper seemingly stepping back into the franchise, and this time as The Doctor.
Then there were talks of how this all came about, with it appearing that there had been reshoots, as Gatwa potentially changed his mind about staying in the role. This led to speculation that Doctor Who was canceled, but Tranter says that’s not the case.
When Bad Wolf secured the contract with BBC Studios in 2021 to co-produce 26 episodes, it came with the Disney+ move for international markets. Tranter insists that Disney+ can walk away after the 26 episodes, but it needs to honor that deal.
So far, 21 episodes have aired, three anniversary specials, two Christmas specials, and the eight episodes in both Gatwa seasons. That leaves five to go.
“Then, and only then, does Disney+ have to make a decision about whether or not they want to do more,” Tranter says.
This is where there can be a change in how the episodes are aired. They could all end up being specials rather than full seasons, and that could potentially make sense considering how all networks around the world are having to look again at their budgets. So, there’s the “when” and “how” Doctor Who could continue, which is great news for those of us who have been wanting more!
It doesn’t matter what Disney decides to do
At the end of the day, Doctor Who is a BBC show, and because of that, it’s going to be the BBC and Bad Wolf that get a final say in whether the series is renewed or not. Whether Disney upholds its end of the deal or pulls out after 26 episodes is up to them.
“At its heart, it’s a BBC show and it will keep going, one way or another,” Tranter confirms.
So, it’s not a case of “if” the series is going to be renewed. Bad Wolf has been a stable company for 10 years, and it can take some of the knocks that come with business. That includes the questions around Doctor Who’s future—and there is going to be a future!
Doctor Who is available to stream in BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney+ everywhere else.