Disney has ended its partnership on the production of Doctor Who after only three years, a surprising move considering their initial enthusiasm. The collaboration, intended for Disney+, didn’t perform as well as expected due to issues on both sides. The partnership covered the final episodes with Jodie Whittaker and all of Ncuti Gatwa’s episodes, which received low viewership and criticism regarding their quality. Ultimately, this led Disney to discontinue their involvement in the show’s production.
As a huge Doctor Who fan, I was really surprised to hear Disney pulled the plug on the show. Apparently, according to sources who know what’s going on, there were a couple of big issues. One of them, surprisingly, wasn’t the initial reaction to Ncuti Gatwa’s casting. It wasn’t about his performance at all, but more about what the role requires beyond acting. They said you really have to become the face of the show, and truly be that generation’s Doctor – something Matt Smith and David Tennant just naturally did. The source hinted that Ncuti didn’t fully step into that ambassador role and wasn’t actively promoting the show as much as they needed him to.
The show also faced criticism related to what some called a backlash against progressive values in the United States. One source within the production team said the show felt “too progressive” for some American audiences, which contributed to Disney’s concerns. This included casting transgender actress Yasmin Finney, featuring a groundbreaking kiss between Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff, and having drag queen Jinkx Monsoon play a villain. These choices alienated some viewers both in the US and in the UK.
The Failure of Doctor Who on Disney+ Has Several Factors
It was always unlikely that Disney+ subscribers would fully embrace Doctor Who. Although the show has a dedicated fanbase and has been popular for many years, it’s still considered a show for a specific audience, unlike Star Wars or Marvel, which appeal to a much wider range of viewers. Adding to the challenge, despite Disney spending around $8.5 million per episode, viewership actually decreased from 5.2 million to 3.8 million.
Blaming so-called ‘woke politics’ for the show’s struggles isn’t quite right, considering Doctor Who has always explored themes of acceptance and being unique. The challenge is that these themes are more difficult to address on a larger scale. Disney likely won’t take responsibility, but their history – like suspending Jimmy Kimmel over a joke – shows they’ll respond to pressure when viewers feel a show goes against their values.
Ncuti Gatwa recently mentioned feeling tired, which led to some criticism. However, previous Doctors like David Tennant and Matt Smith actively promoted the show, greatly contributing to its success. If Gatwa isn’t able to dedicate the necessary effort, the show needs to find an actor who is willing and able to do so.
A Doctor Who Christmas special is planned for next year to resolve some storylines, including Billie Piper’s transformation into the Fifteenth Doctor. Afterwards, the BBC needs to decide on the show’s future direction and whether to continue working with Russell T. Davies as the lead producer. The choices the BBC makes now will be crucial for the success of this long-running science fiction series.
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2025-10-31 21:17