BBC Insists Its Disney Partnership Remains Strong in Wake of ‘Doctor Who' Doubts
Speaking to the press after the release of the BBC's Annual Report (via Deadline), BBC Studios CEO Tom Fussell stressed that the BBC remains committed to Doctor Who's future, even as it declines to officially announce the show's continuation.
'Fans love the Doctor Who brand. It's been that way since before I was in short trousers,' Fussell said, adding that the BBC saw its deal with Disney to partially fund and distribute Doctor Who internationally as 'crucial' and that BBC Studios is 'really committed to Doctor Who and is continuing to look at ways in which we can bring the show to fans.'
The BBC works with Disney on not just Doctor Who, but multiple BBC Studios shows, including Dancing With the Stars, the U.S. version of Strictly Come Dancing, and Bluey, including a financing deal on the latter's upcoming feature film.
Fussell's comments, while optimistic, do not confirm when or if Doctor Who will return any time soon, in the wake of Ncuti Gatwa's exit as the Doctor and the surprise arrival of former star Billie Piper as a potential next or altered incarnation of the Time Lord.
The comments come in the wake of increasing doubt that Doctor Who can or will return to production within the next few years. The possibility of a return in 2026 or even 2027 at the earliest is likely off the table at this point with no official word from Disney or the BBC about continuation of their production deal. With both Gatwa himself and current showrunner Russell T Davies uncommitted about the series' future, it's possible that if Doctor Who does return, it might do so several years down the line.
While fans wait for that, there are some small slices of Doctor Who on the way. The last element of the current deal with Disney, a five-episode spinoff miniseries titled The War Between The Land and The Sea is expected to potentially release by the end of this year. The BBC also recently confirmed it is looking for a production partner on a new animated iteration of the series, aimed at young audiences through its CBeebies platform.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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