Amidst rumors of the possibility of Doctor Who being cancelled or potentially recasting the titular role, the BBC has issued an official statement regarding the show’s future. The speculation stemmed from a report in The Sun, which stated Doctor Who was about to be put on ice for an extended period of time (estimated between five to 10 years), citing “perceived disappointment” over Season 14’s ratings. The Sun also claimed that current Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has “already filmed a regeneration sequence” that would air at the end of the upcoming Season 15 ((billed as Season 2 on Disney+), as the actor is supposedly moving to Los Angeles to “pursue Hollywood work.” However, the BBC has refuted these rumors.
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“This story is incorrect, Doctor Who has not been shelved,” the network’s statement, which was published by Radio Times, reads. “As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs. The deal with Disney Plus was for 26 episodes – and exactly half of those still have to transmit. And as for the rest, we never comment on the Doctor and future storylines.”
Back in 2022, Gatwa was officially cast as the Fifteenth Doctor and made his debut on the 2023 Christmas special. His first full season as the series lead premiered last year. Though the BBC has not yet announced a release date for Season 15, it is coming out at some point this year. A trailer for Gatwa’s next season premiered over Christmas, giving audiences their first look at the Doctor’s new companion.
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Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies is hopeful there will be a third season with Gatwa as the lead, though he admitted “it’s an industry decision.” While he is working on developing more episodes, he’s said he figured a decision on a renewal wouldn’t be made until after Season 15 airs.
Since Doctor Who was relaunched in 2005, the lead actors tend to stick around for a few seasons. With the exceptions of Christopher Eccleston (who only headlined the revival’s first season) and David Tennant’s turn as the Fourteenth Doctor (which spanned three episodes), all of the stars have been featured in at least three seasons and various specials. Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor appeared in four seasons. While it’s too early to definitively state what will become of Gatwa’s iteration, history suggests he will get at least one more season before wrapping up his tenure. That conceivably could change depending on how the upcoming season performs, but pulling the plug after two seasons would mark a shift in the way the BBC has handled Doctor Who for close to two decades. Though, the show now being a co-production with Disney could impact decisions.
Gatwa’s debut season of Doctor Who earned widespread critical acclaim, with people praising the actor’s performance. Critics felt Gatwa’s turn injected some fresh life and energy into the long-running show, so it would be a shame if his time as the Doctor was over so quickly. If Gatwa’s second season receives a similar reception, the BBC and Disney might be inclined to keep him around in an effort to maintain the positive momentum. It’ll be interesting to see what happens, but even if Gatwa departs after two seasons, it sounds like Doctor Who will be sticking around for the foreseeable future.
