If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Disney to "have a creative input" in BBC's Doctor Who, going forward

Though the BBC will retain "ultimate editorial control" over the beloved sci-fi series, it looks like Disney will have some say in the show's development too

Doctor Who
Image credit: BBC

Following the recent announcement that beloved British sci-fi series Doctor Who will be heading to Disney+ for non-UK/Irish audiences worldwide in 2023, it has just been announced that Disney won't just serve as a platform for the show, it will co-produce the show as well. The deal between Disney and the BBC is now being referred to as a "co-production deal," with Disney having "a creative input" in the series, but with BBC and returning showrunner Russell T. Davies retaining "ultimate editorial control," according to Telegraph.

This is only one of a handful of recent surprises regarding Doctor Who, including the first announcement of the show heading to Disney+, the surprise twist at the end of the most recent special (which saw the farewell of Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor), and the announcement that Doctor Who will not return until at least November 2023.

As of now, there have been no announcements or promises yet about the level of control that Disney will have over the show, though Russell T. Davies has said about the situation, “I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds – with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK.”

As to whether or not the classic series will retain its low-fi British charm, it looks like Doctor Who fans will simply have to wait and see.


Want to get into Doctor Who and don't know where to start? Check out Popverse's guide on how to watch Doctor Who.

Tiffany Babb

Tiffany Babb: Tiffany Babb is a professional lurker (aka critic) who once served as Popverse’s deputy editor and resident Sondheim enthusiast.

Comments

Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.

View Comments (0)

Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy