Ncuti Gatwa Is A “Really Good Fit” For Doctor Who, Praises Disney Exec

• Disney SVP Keelan praises Doctor Who ‘s quirkiness and sci-fi world, seeing it as a good fit alongside Disney+ programming.
• Doctor Who ‘s future beyond season 15 is still uncertain, but there have been positive discussions and developments about renewal with Disney.
• Disney’s involvement in the new Earthbound spin-off and positive reception of season 14 hints at a likely future renewal.

Disney executive Liam Keelan praises Doctor Who following the conclusion of Ncuti Gatwa’s first season as the Fifteenth Doctor. While the British sci-fi series has explored time and space for over sixty years, the Walt Disney Company entered a new production agreement in 2022 with the BBC to distribute the series internationally while also contributing to the budget. Their collaboration can be seen in season 14, which saw Gatwa pilot the TARDIS alongside new companion Ruby Sunday, portrayed by Millie Gibson.

While viewers await the 2024 seasonal special, Deadline reported that one Disney executive has made their support for the series publicly known. When speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Disney’s SVP of original productions in EMEA Keelan had strong praise for the series, stating that they feel Doctor Who is an ideal fit alongside Disney+’s other programming. Check out Keelan’s full explanation below:

Will Doctor Who Continue Beyond Season 15 With Disney’s Involvement?

There Have Been Positive Discussions & Developments About The Franchise’s Future.

Despite Disney’s approval, Doctor Who‘s future beyond the currently filmed season 15 is still uncertain, as the main series was only ordered for two seasons initially per the agreement. However, showrunner Russell T Davies suggested that the recently concluded season 14 had performed well enough that he had begun to write scripts for season 16. Producer Jane Tranter also hinted in the August 2024 issue of Doctor Who Magazine that discussions between both parties about a renewal had been going well.

Furthermore, The War Between The Land and Sea was officially announced in July at SDCC, an Earthbound spin-off that sees new and familiar characters go up against the classic Doctor Who menace, the Sea Devils. This series will be co-produced between the BBC, Disney, and production company Bad Wolf. The spin-off finally being confirmed shows that Disney feels comfortable enough to continue the franchise and invest in its expansion. As such, a future renewal of the main series feels increasingly likely.