Ncuti Gatwa is leaving "Doctor Who" after just two seasons, and with him, confidence in the future of the Disney+ era is wavering. Even a surprise return is likely to raise further questions.
 |
| Image Credit: Disney+ |
Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor came and went in what feels like a flash in the pan. With two seasons, he's not the Doctor with the shortest time in the Tardis, but his exit seemed hasty, and his potential wasn't fully realized. While the regeneration in the Season 2 finale held a surprise, the future of the series, at least in its current form, remains uncertain.
Was Gatwa's exit planned?
Even before the season finale, rumors circulated that Ncuti Gatwa wouldn't remain in the role of the 15th Doctor for long, even though the interview about the new season didn't mention an exit. With the end of Season 2, it's now official: Gatwa is saying goodbye.
Rumor has it that Gatwa no longer wanted to commit to "Doctor Who" because it wasn't yet clear when and how Season 3 would continue. "Doctor Who" used to be a BBC-only production, but the final two seasons were co-financed by Disney. This provided a larger budget and a new home for the series outside of the UK, but also gave Disney a say.
Because Disney took too long to decide whether "Doctor Who" should continue to be shown on Disney+, Gatwa has said goodbye – that's one theory. Others are certain that Gatwa's exit after Season 2 was always part of the plan and that filming was already scheduled for early 2024.
A familiar return – but no real answer
Arguably the most unexpected moment in the finale occurred in the final seconds: The 15th Doctor regenerates into a figure that looks like Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper. This naturally raises numerous questions. Does the Doctor simply look like Rose, or is he Rose? How could that be if Rose continues to exist? Or are we dealing with the "Bad Wolf" entity, not the new Doctor?
In any case, it was striking that Piper was not referred to as the Doctor in the credits. This was no coincidence, but a deliberate mystery. It's likely that Rose will only replace the Doctor for a short time – perhaps in a Christmas special – before the actual new Doctor is revealed.
Is there a future for "Doctor Who"?
Even if Disney has already lost interest in "Doctor Who," the series should fundamentally remain with us. The BBC, at least, hasn't indicated that it is considering canceling "Doctor Who." It could simply be that the series won't return until 2027, and then again with a slightly more modest budget, albeit no longer on Disney+.
Source:
Post a Comment