Disney Steps Back from Doctor Who
After three years of collaboration, Disney is stepping away from Doctor Who. The company will no longer co-produce the series, leaving the BBC in full control of the long-running sci-fi franchise.
The partnership began in 2022 to coincide with the show’s 60th anniversary. It was marked by ambitious moves. Ncuti Gatwa was casted as the first Black actor to play the Doctor and Russell T Davies returned as showrunner.
Yet the results were a mixed bag. While the series received a lot of attention for these headline-grabbing decisions, fans and longtime viewers criticized the writing.
The Finale That Shocked Fans
Gatwa’s final episode aired in May 2025, with a regeneration that sparked a lot of debate. When Gatwa’s Doctor regenerated (family-friendly way to kill the Doctor without actually killing them by hiring a new actor to play them), the character transformed into Billie Piper. The actress is famous for playing the Doctor’s companion Rose Tyler in 2005. For many, this moment was seen as an empty spectacle. There was no build-up, no foreshadowing. Billie’s cameo threw everyone off guard for the wrong reasons. Fans accused the BBC of relying on nostalgia rather than crafting meaningful stories.
Decisions like these combined with uneven quality in the two seasons Disney co-produced, led to skepticism about the franchise’s direction. Yet despite the criticisms, the BBC is confident about the series’ future.
What This Means for the Series
Disney’s exit is a sign that Doctor Who didn’t resonate with a global audience. It’s reported that the series cost Disney over £10 million pounds ($13.3 million USD) per episode. Low ratings in the UK were probably a major factor in Disney’s decision to step away from Doctor Who once their deal expired.
Yet despite the criticism and abysmal ratings, the BBC is hopeful they can turn things around. A Christmas 2026 special written by Russell T Davies has been announced. The BBC will continue working on an animated children’s series based on Doctor Who. Additionally, a spin-off co-produced by Disney, The War Between the Land and the Sea, will still be released as planned.
The network is committed to expanding the Doctor Who universe without Disney’s backing. Whether that will be enough to win back disillusioned fans remains to be seen.
Future arrangements to stream the series outside the UK have yet to be announced, but one thing is clear: the Doctor isn’t going anywhere.
