BBC Boss Guarantees ‘Physician Who’ Will Carry On—With or With out Disney

The top of Ncuti Gatwa‘s run as Physician Who was complicated for a number of causes. However past the “Wait, what’s Billie Piper doing right here?” of that regeneration scene is a larger question concerning the present’s future. With no extra seasons scheduled, no updates on the BBC-Disney partnership that powered the Fifteenth Physician’s seasons, and the newest showrunner Russell T Davies distancing himself from any Who-related inquiries, followers have been left questioning if, not when, the present will return. At the moment, there’s a flicker of latest hope.

In accordance with the Radio Times, the BBC’s Chief Content material Officer, Kate Phillips, addressed the Physician Who conundrum on the ongoing Edinburgh TV Competition. “Any Whovians on the market, relaxation assured—Physician Who goes nowhere,” she stated, then made reference to the upcoming Doctor Who spin-off, a restricted sequence set in the identical universe because the present however not that includes the Physician character.

“Disney has been an important partnership and it continues with The Conflict Between the Land and the Sea subsequent yr,” Phillips stated. “However, going ahead, with or with out Disney, Physician Who will nonetheless be on the BBC.”

For emphasis, she added, “The TARDIS goes nowhere.”

The Radio Occasions additionally quotes the director of BBC Drama, Lindsay Salt, as saying the community will “all the time keep dedicated” to Physician Who, although there’s no replace past that.

The takeaway is that the BBC isn’t closing the door on future seasons of Physician Who—a present it was making for many years earlier than Disney got here round and enhanced its funds and broadcast attain. No shock there. The Physician will return; that a lot appears sure. However it additionally appears the whole lot else stays tangled in time and house for now.

Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to anticipate the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and the whole lot that you must learn about the way forward for Doctor Who.