Last week it was announced that Disney+ would be the new streaming home of Doctor Who. Fans seemed to be split on that news, but the goal of this is to “transform Doctor Who into a global franchise for UK audiences and the rest of the world.” Now, there’s a new report that’s surfaced that I don’t think a lot of fans are going to like.
According to a report from The Telegraph, Disney is reportedly planning on giving Doctor Who a “Hollywood makeover” when the upcoming 60th anniversary season comes to Disney+ outside of the United Kingdom.
It’s explained that Disney “will have a say in creative decisions for Doctor Who, under the terms of a co-production deal made with the BBC over its long-running sci-fi series.” However, showrunner Russell T Davies will retain the overall creative vision for the show.
Disney is also looking to give the show a “vast budget beyond the BBC’s means, allowing for more cinematic production values and more stars.” But, is said that these higher budgets for the production are “commercially sensitive, and have not been revealed.”
Now, while some of you may be upset about this news, just know that the BBC supposedly maintains the final say on the franchise. So, if they say no to something, Disney can’t do it. But, they both agree on something, the future of Doctor Who is going to have a much bigger budget to tell stories.
Disney’s Doctor Who reign will begin with the release of the Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials, which are coming in November 2023. These specials see David Tennant returning to the franchise as the Fourteenth Doctor. After Tennant’s run as The Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa will take over as the Fifteenth Doctor.