With the latest season of Doctor Who set to premiere, there has been speculation that this could be a pivotal moment for the show, given the rumors that Disney might terminate its funding deal or even cancel the series outright. However, it seems that the show’s future is more secure than initially thought, regardless of Disney’s involvement.

A recent report from the British tabloid The Daily Mirror suggests that plans are already in place for Doctor Who to continue, irrespective of Disney’s decision regarding the co-funding deal that allows the series to be distributed on Disney+ internationally. Although Disney executives have expressed their support for the show, they have also stated that any decision to extend the co-funding deal would depend on the show’s ratings after the current season concludes.

According to The Mirror, Doctor Who is scheduled to take a break in 2026 and return in 2027, with the spinoff series The War Between Land and Sea filling the gap for fans in the interim. The report also indicates that Russell T Davies will continue as showrunner, with scripts for at least two more seasons currently in development. It remains unclear whether Ncuti Gatwa will reprise his role as the Doctor in the upcoming seasons.

The impact of Disney’s potential withdrawal of funding support on Doctor Who might not be as significant as initially thought. The Mirror’s report suggests that a substantial portion of the approximately £10 million per episode funding, provided by Disney, was allocated towards enhancing the show’s visual effects for 4K streaming. If the BBC were to become the sole funder, the series could potentially scale back on these expenses, as the BBC streams in 2K high-definition.

With only three episodes left in the current series, fans can expect more concrete information about the future of Doctor Who soon. For now, it appears that the situation may not be as dire as it seemed earlier this year, and fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

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