Doctor Who writer Mark Gatiss has spoken about the future of the iconic sci-fi show amidst rumors of cancelation and declining ratings.
Doctor Who concluded its fifteenth season (since 2005, at least) last year, with Ncuti Gatwa officially stepped back from the lead role after just two seasons—a noteably small tenure for Doctor Who actors. The past two seasons have been met with mixed reviews, and the latest episodes faced constant rumors of behind-the-scenes obstacles broughout about by Disney’s involvement.
In 2022, Disney entered a co-production agreement with Doctor Who for two seasons. The studio gave the show a huge new budget, international streaming rights, and a much larger marketing campaign. However, it soon became clear that neither Disney nor Doctor Who was benefitting from the collaborative effort, and Disney stepped back after last season’s rushed ending.
Mark Gatiss Gives His Thoughts on ‘Doctor Who’s Future
“It’s never going to be Star Wars,” Gatiss admitted. “What it is, is Doctor Who—and I think that’s the key.”
Gatiss has penned several episodes of the BBC show since its revival in 2005, including fan-favorite stories “Victory of the Daleks”, “The Unquiet Dead,” and “The Sign of Three.” He hasn’t been involved with the show for several years, but he remains an instrumental figure in the show’s discussions.
“The Disney money obviously did something, but in the end, it’s essentially a spooky show. It’s a weird show. And that’s what I’ve always adored about it,” Gatiss continued. “It’s not like anything else. And actually when it tries to be like something else, it’s not Doctor Who.”
Thankfully, Doctor Who won’t be going off-air any time soon. Showrunner RussellT. Davies has announced that he’ll be writing a festive special to air in December 2026, and the BBC has also confirmed that they’ll be taking the show back from Disney’s hands. Exactly when the show returns full-time, however, is still up in the air.
“I think, in the end, the thing to absolutely cherish and cling onto is that it’s very much its own thing and that’s why we’ve always loved it.”
