Overview

• Russell T. Davies has publicly asserted he is not involved in BBC–Disney renewal talks and insisted that he ‘literally doesn’t know’ what will happen next.
• No future seasons of the main live-action series have been confirmed following Ncuti Gatwa’s regeneration at the end of May that saw Billie Piper assume the Doctor’s role.
• The series’ two seasons and 60th anniversary specials under the Disney+ co-production received mixed critical reception and experienced low-single-million viewership in UK measures.
• Industry reports indicate Disney holds a contractual renewal option while the BBC could continue the show at reduced budgets if the partnership ends, making decisions a matter of business rather than creative vision.
• Whoniverse expansion is proceeding through spin-offs such as the five-episode The War Between the Land and the Sea and a preschool animated series on CBeebies despite the main series’ unresolved status.