Russell T. Davies has assured fans that Doctor Who is still the same show and nothing will change after it became a co-production with Disney Plus.
Disney Plus now has international distribution rights to the show, which will return for special episodes in November 2023 ahead of the next series, while remaining exclusive to the BBC in the UK.
Russell, 59, who recently welcomed Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor for the new 14th series, explained in the latest issue of Doctor Who magazine: “I know people are naturally concerned that the American producers have notes on things.
Staying the same: Russell T. Davies has assured fans that Doctor Who is still the same show and nothing will change after it became a co-production with Disney Plus.
Well, don’t be. They are giving excellent grades.
Russell added: “And I’m here to tell you that you haven’t seen a drama on British TV in 20 years that hasn’t had American notes.” It’s all a co-production…it’s really, completely normal.’
The producer also teased that the show might even see dark villain Mavic Chen, the president of the Solar System who was played by the late Kevin Stoney, make a comeback.
He said: “And if you want more peace of mind, let me tell you that we are about to broadcast the words ‘Mavic Chen’ on TV for the first time since 1966. It’s absolutely the same show.”
All’s well: Russell, who cast Ncuti Gatwa (pictured together) as the 15th Doctor, explained in Doctor Who magazine that American producers give the show “excellent” marks.
Russell recently dismissed reports that the show’s budget had risen to a staggering £10m per episode after the Disney Plus partnership.
He said: ‘That has been exaggerated. If that were the budget, I’d be speaking to you from my base on the Moon.
‘That’s not the budget, and I’m concerned that misinformation like that creates false expectations. However, we have a beautiful and attractive budget, and we are very happy with the way we are processing it.’
Executive producer Jane Tranter added: “It’s a really good budget for us. But we’re not ‘Game of Thrones.’ Or ‘The Rings of Power.’
‘We looked at all backgrounds, all genders’: Doctor Who bosses considered casting non-binary actor for Time Lord, before casting Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa
It comes after Davies previously revealed that Doctor Who bosses considered casting a non-binary actor for the Fifty Lord of Time, before casting Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa.
In a new interview, the producer discussed the search to find Jodie Whittaker’s replacement with actors from “all backgrounds and genders” taking part in the audition process.
The screenwriter, 59, reflected on the casting process and how both he and executive producer Phil Collinson had a rough vision that the new Doctor would be played by someone under 30.
“As always, we turned to Andy Pryor [casting director] and said, “Bring us the best of the land.” We looked at all the backgrounds, all the genres,” Russell told the Radio Times. Doctor Who Magazine.
‘We saw men, we saw women, we saw a non-binary actor.
“I think as a rule of thumb we were looking for younger people, most of the people we saw were under 30, but not as a definitive rule of thumb, and sort of new talent.”
While Russell remained coy about which actors were involved in the audition process, he did admit that the bosses almost gave the Doctor Who role to someone else, before Ncuti landed the part.
Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes to coincide with the show’s 60th anniversary, with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor.
The Fifteenth Doctor, played by 30-year-old Ncuti, will take control of the TARDIS and his first episode will air over the festive period next year.
In October, Jodie stepped down from her role as The Doctor, replaced by returning star David for upcoming anniversary episodes.
The power of the Doctor was packed with excitement as famous faces returned, Jodie retired after five years as Time Lord, David made his return and fans got their first look at Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor.
Withdrawal: In October, Jodie Whittaker stepped down from her role as The Doctor, replaced by returning star David for upcoming anniversary episodes.
The 60th feature-length celebration of the sci-fi series will also star Catherine Tate, reprising her role as companion Donna Noble.
Jodie’s final episode ended with a short preview of the anniversary episodes, which will hit screens in 2023.
The trailer teased Ncuti’s long-awaited arrival as the star was seen asking, “Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on?”
The fifteenth doctor: the first images show Ncuti in full costume with his partner Millie Gibson