Disney+ is leaving the TARDIS. After partnering with BBC on “Doctor Who” for two seasons, the streamer will no longer be involved in the sci-fi staple.
However, a Christmas special from Russell T. Davies is reportedly in the works with a 2026 premiere date. Plans for a new season of the British action adventure series are in the works.
Disney+ is still partnering with BBC One on “The War Between the Land and the Sea,” a spinoff series set in the “Doctor Who” universe that will follow the military organization UNIT as they try to prevent a global war caused by the Sea Devils. Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jemma Redgrave and Alexander Devrient are expected to star in the series.
“We’d like to thank Disney+ for being terrific global partners and collaborators over the past two seasons, and for the upcoming ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea.’ The BBC remains fully committed to ‘Doctor Who,’ which continues to be one of our most loved dramas, and we are delighted that Russell T Davies has agreed to write us another spectacular Christmas special for 2026,” Lindsay Salt, director of drama at BBC, said. “We can assure fans, the Doctor is not going anywhere, and we will be announcing plans for the next series in due course which will ensure the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC.”
“Doctor Who” first came to Disney+ in 2023 starting with the show’s 60th anniversary specials. Not only did Disney+ hold the international rights to the U.K. show but the deal also substantially increased the budget of a show known for its scrappy visuals.
