Doctor Who writer addresses show’s future after Disney deal: “It’s never going to be Star Wars”

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Mark Gatiss, a prominent figure from the long-running series Doctor Who, has discussed what’s next for the show now that its agreement with Disney has concluded.

Disney announced in October 2025 that it wouldn’t be involved in any further seasons of Doctor Who or its spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, after completing a 26-episode agreement that covered two seasons.

Doctor Who will still air on the BBC, and Russell T Davies is coming back as head writer to create a Christmas special this year.

Mark Gatiss, a writer for Doctor Who who has contributed episodes from various periods of the show – including popular installments like ‘The Unquiet Dead,’ ‘The Idiot’s Lantern,’ ‘The Crimson Horror,’ and ‘Robot of Sherwood’ – discussed the potential impact of a recent deal’s conclusion with TopMob at the TopMob Covers Party 2026.

Watch Mark Gatiss talk to RT below:

“It’s never going to be Star Wars,” he pointed out.

This issue has been around since Michael Grade cancelled the original series in 1985. People often compare it to Star Wars, assuming audiences expect that level of spectacle, but that’s not right. Doctor Who needs to be its own thing, and that’s what’s most important.

He felt the recent seasons looked fantastic, and the increased budget from Disney clearly made a difference. Ultimately, though, he believes it’s at its core a spooky and unusual show – which is exactly what he’s always loved about it. He emphasized that its unique quality is essential, and when it tries to imitate other shows, it loses what makes it Doctor Who.

Ultimately, what we truly value and hold onto is its unique identity—that’s always been the reason we’ve loved it.

The author recently discussed the surprising scene where Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor transformed into Billie Piper’s character, who was returning to the show.

“Russell [T Davies] does chutzpah like no one else,” he said.

I wasn’t really aware of the plans for Ncuti Gatwa’s time on the show – I thought he might stay for three years, but he ended up leaving after two, which was unexpected. It really felt like a major cliffhanger ending, didn’t it?

This feels like a major turning point, similar to the dramatic finale of ‘Sherlock’ at Reichenbach Falls. It really brings everything full circle, connecting the show’s storylines from 2005 onward – it’s all been building to Billie’s story. And then something unexpected happens!

“So I haven’t a clue. I know there’s a Christmas special this year. And after that, who knows?”

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Doctor Who will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas.

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Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-02-03 12:34