Warning: This article includes spoilers for the Doctor Who season 15 finale!
AfterDoctor Whoseason 15’s major cliffhanger ending, the showrunner has commented on the series' future and the unsolved mysteries. BeforeDoctor Whoseason 15 even ended, a rumor spread aboutNcuti Gatwa regenerating andDoctor Whogetting canceled. Because the first half of that came true, fans are nervously waiting to find out if the second half will happen too. Unfortunately, showrunner Russell T. Davies (RTD) and the rest of theDoctor Whoteam are also stuck without answers.
In an interview withDoctor Who Magazine(viaRadioTimes), RTD balked at the idea ofDoctor Whoever ending, and he discussed all the mysteries that he hopes to explore in the future. Most notably, he wants to address theDoctor taking on the face of Billie Piper. That being said, he’s pausing on speculating about the future storylines. He said this:
“No, not the end, don’t be mad. Doctor Who will never end!
There are pathways leading to potential futures – we’ve still got the mystery of that bright and blazing ending, ‘Oh, hello,’ yes indeed, hello Billie! And there’s Susan, of course.
I wonder if we’ll ever find out who the Boss is. Or who the Boss are. (I’m still wondering who Gus is, from Mummy on the Orient Express. Maybe they’re the same!)
But we don’t know what’s happening yet, and while everyone works that out, I’ll take a pause on this page … Hopefully, we’ll have news soon, and certainly, The War Between the Land and the Sea is about to break out, so there are great things ahead. Until then.”
Although RTD and all the Whovians will have to wait for news aboutDoctor Whoseason 16, the showrunner is right to bring attention toThe War Between the Land and the Sea. A release date hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s expected in 2025.
What RTD’s Comments About Doctor Who Mean
RTD Reminds Viewers About Other Doctor Who Projects
RTD is constantly getting asked aboutDoctor Whoseason 16and beyond when he doesn’t have answers, which must get frustrating. However, his response is a perfect reminder that the main TV show isn’t the onlyDoctor Whoproject out there. Fans who are eager to get moreDoctor Whocan listen to the Big Finish Productions audio stories, many of which include the actors from the main show as the voice actors. Many Doctor Who books exist for those who enjoy reading. These mediums include a number ofgreatDoctor Whostories that have never appeared onscreen.
On top of that,The War Between The Land and the Seawill come out this year, and a new animatedDoctor Whoshow is in development at the BBC. Because of how expansive the franchise is, RTD is right to say thatDoctor Whowill never end. Even if, by some chance, the show goes on a break, it could come back years later without too much of an issue because of the nature of the Doctor. On top of that, fans will likely never stop expanding theDoctor Whoextended universe, using other forms of media.
Our Take On Doctor Who’s Future
Doctor Who Season 16 Will Need A Good Explanation For The Billie Piper Regeneration
Although RTD might want to take a break from exploring future storylines, there’s no chance fans will follow suit, especially after the shocking regeneration at the end ofDoctor Whoseason 15. I’m excited about the idea of Billie Piper playing the Sixteenth Doctor. This would make her one of the fewactors to play three characters inDoctor Who.
However, I’m also mildly skeptical about the direction they’ll go with the story. I fully believe that theDoctor Whoregeneration was a gimmick intended to draw in viewers. After all, Disney+ will almost certainly decide whether to continue its deal withDoctor Whobased on numbers alone, rather than considering the passionate fanbase. Hopefully, RTD has, at least, thought far enough ahead to have a solid explanation for the Doctor taking on Billie Piper’s face.
