Disney+ has cancelled Doctor Who after only two seasons, and several factors contributed to the end of their partnership. While Doctor Who is a hugely popular and long-running sci-fi show, the collaboration with Disney+ didn’t work out. High production costs, declining viewership, and Disney’s shift away from original streaming content all played a role. While there’s debate about why ratings fell, the cancellation was due to a combination of issues. Now, it’s up to the BBC to decide what’s next for the show.
Several factors contributed to the cancellation of Doctor Who on Disney+ after only two seasons. These included limited promotion from Disney, claims of progressive storylines throughout the show’s history, and the inability of the new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, to actively promote the series.
Disney Wasn’t Getting a Return Investment on Doctor Who
The biggest issues with the recent run of Doctor Who on Disney+ were how expensive each episode was to produce and the decline in the number of viewers. While Disney+ was willing to spend a lot on popular shows like those from Marvel and Star Wars – because they attracted new subscribers – Doctor Who remained a BBC production. This meant Disney was reportedly paying around $8.5 million per episode, a high cost considering the show’s performance. Viewership actually fell from an average of 5.2 million during Jodie Whittaker’s time as the Doctor to 3.8 million with Ncuti Gatwa.
Look, there seem to be two big reasons why viewership dropped for the latest season of Doctor Who. I’m hearing from someone on the inside that some fans were turned off by storylines they felt were too focused on social issues – what some are calling “woke” content. But that’s not the whole story. Apparently, Ncuti Gatwa, the new Doctor, wasn’t as eager to be the face of the show as past Doctors like Matt Smith and David Tennant. This insider told me that being the Doctor means more than just acting – you have to actively promote the series and really be that generation’s Doctor. Gatwa’s explanation? He said he was feeling burnt out and needed to prioritize his health. It’s a bit of a complicated situation, but it definitely seems like both the creative direction and the star’s involvement played a role in the ratings decline.
Some fans have criticized recent storylines as being “woke,” a complaint also seen among fans of Star Trek. However, Doctor Who has always been about inclusivity, featuring characters of diverse races, genders, and sexual orientations. This has been a core part of the show since it began, just like Star Trek. The latest season included a groundbreaking gay kiss, a transgender actress, and a drag queen as a villain. The real shift isn’t in the show itself, but perhaps in the audience. This could explain why bringing Doctor Who to the US and Disney+ feels like a perfect show at a complicated moment in time.
The BBC Needs to Figure Out What Is Next for Doctor Who
Now that Doctor Who is no longer available on Disney+, the BBC needs to decide on the future of the popular sci-fi show. The latest season faced criticism from some American viewers, particularly regarding certain storylines like the Doctor’s kiss with another man, and many also felt the writing wasn’t as strong as it once was. While the 60th anniversary was expected to generate excitement, the show struggled to maintain that initial energy. Overall, the recent season received mixed reviews, making it difficult to gain new viewers and causing some long-time fans to lose interest.
With Ncuti Gatwa’s time as the Doctor over, the BBC needs to decide what’s next for Doctor Who. The show traditionally has breaks between seasons, and fans won’t see a new episode until Christmas Day 2026 – an episode that will resolve some ongoing storylines, including Billie Piper’s transformation into the 15th Doctor. The biggest question now is whether Russell T. Davies will continue as showrunner. While Davies has a strong vision, bringing in additional writers could benefit the show. Ultimately, Doctor Who needs to evolve if it wants to continue thriving for another decade on television.
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2025-11-03 22:42