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Disney’s ‘Woke’ Doctor Who: The Inside Story of the Meltdown and the End of a Deal

BBG News

Over the past weekend, I was part of the bustling crowd at the grandest Doctor Who convention held at a Marriott Hotel in sunny Los Angeles. As expected, it drew an array of popular stars from the series.

Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, who are both 81 years old, embarked on a journey spanning approximately 11,000 miles in total.

Or more colloquially: The octogenarian duo, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, covered a distance of roughly 11,000 miles in their travels.

Joining them were esteemed members of the Doctor Who dynasty: Catherine Tate, known for her role as Donna Noble, and Jenna Coleman, famed for portraying Clara Oswald. They shared screen time with previous incarnations of the Time Lord, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi.

At the event, BBC producers and executives from the series production company Bad Wolf filled up the panel areas.

There’s been no indication from Disney execs, but the fact that they acquired international distribution rights for the show in 2022, and now the show is missing, could be the most compelling clue yet that they might be planning to end the deal.

One source noted that it was quite conspicuous that Disney did not participate in this significant event on the Doctor Who timeline, given it took place within their own neighborhood. Some speculate that Disney may be preparing to disengage from the series.

Three years ago, when the entertainment company announced a £100million deal to stream the program, it was quite different from the current situation. As stated by Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer, this partnership with Disney promises to take the show to even loftier levels and attract new viewers. Needless to say, it’s an incredibly thrilling time for fans!

Lately, I’ve found myself critiquing certain series due to their heavy emphasis on politically charged narratives, which seem forced and lack subtlety. Unfortunately, this approach appears to have negatively impacted the ratings, causing them to plummet to record lows.

Enthusiasts of “Doctor Who” found themselves upset after the arrival of transgender and non-binary characters, who expressed frustration towards those presuming their gender identity, along with an eccentric new antagonist portrayed by a drag artist, sparked controversy among some viewers.

Discontent among viewers arises as whispers circulate that the current Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, is considering leaving after only two seasons, potentially leading to the show’s termination. The 32-year-old Scottish actor became part of the cast in 2023 for the 14th season, taking over from Jodie Whittaker who played the Doctor for the first time as a woman and then departed.

His initial series garnered between 2 to 3 million viewers during overnight ratings, but the BBC claims that if you count those who watched on iPlayer, the viewership increases to approximately 5 million. However, this audience figure is just a small slice compared to what it used to draw in past times.

Following Russell T Davies’ return as showrunner in 2005, after a 16-year hiatus for the show, he introduced some contentious storylines. Among these were David Tennant’s Doctor discovering his sexual orientation as gay, following a romantic interest in the attractive Sir Isaac Newton.

In the 60th anniversary specials, Tennant’s portrayal of the 14th doctor subtly touches upon his character’s sexuality through a conversation with Donna. During their discussion about the character played by Nathaniel Curtis, who portrayed Isaac Newton, Donna comments, “Is it just me or was Isaac Newton quite attractive?” To which the Doctor responds, “Yes, he certainly was. Oh! Are you referring to me?” Donna then adds, “Well, your attraction wasn’t always hidden, old chap. I’ve always felt that about you…

In addition, spectators were made acquainted with Donna’s transgender daughter Rose, portrayed by trans actress Yasmin Finney. She rebukes the Doctor after he refers to a fluffy rodent-like creature named Beep The Meep using ‘him’. Rose questions: “Are you presuming ‘he’ as the pronoun?

In a scene described as awkward by certain spectators, the Doctor expresses regret and queries Meep about its gender identity – male, female, or non-binary. Back in 2018, some viewers were startled upon witnessing a man portrayed as pregnant in a futuristic medical facility. One viewer angrily commented: “Is this for real? Male pregnancy? The Doctor Who series has truly strayed from its course this time.

Previously, the show brought on a fresh antagonist named Maestro, portrayed by the drag queen Jinkx Monsoon, who clinched the title of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2013.

However, some argue that the modifications, often attributed to the Disney acquisition, have fallen short among the show’s workers. As a previous scriptwriter stated, “It’s evident that the impact of their U.S. financiers on the series is palpable.

With a shift in the political climate in the U.S., it appears that Disney is considering ending their involvement with Doctor Who as they aim to refocus their brand beyond socially progressive themes. Notably, following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Disney has eased some of its internal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and discontinued content warnings in their films.

Previously, when questioned about Disney’s content seemingly promoting progressive ideas, the CEO, Bob Iger, explained to shareholders that “our role isn’t to push forward any specific ideology.

Fans have observed a significant shift towards a more “Disney-like” feel in the show, which has led some to wonder if the collaboration between the creators and Disney may have concluded. In December, Davies commented on the partnership: “It’s been a wonderful adventure, we’ve had a fantastic journey,” hinting that the deal might be over.

The agreement encompassed a total of 26 episodes, consisting of two complete series and a standalone five-episode continuation titled “The War Between Land and Sea.” All these have been shot, with Gatwa’s second series scheduled to air in May and the spin-off to follow later this year.

However, Disney has chosen to keep information regarding the deal’s future undisclosed, according to insiders at the BBC, causing a significant problem due to talent becoming increasingly impatient.

Disney won’t make a call on the series until after the second season has been broadcast, so they can evaluate its viewership. Without a guaranteed income from Disney, the BBC is hesitant to confirm the show’s continuation.

It’s been reported that Gatwa has already recorded his departure scene as the Doctor in “Doctor Who,” making this the briefest tenure for any actor playing this role since Christopher Eccleston left the show following a single season in 2005.

It’s believed that Gatwa, who’s assisted on set by Millie Gibson, found himself growing weary about the idea of being tied down to a show without a fixed filming plan, and he seems eager to explore other ventures instead.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share some insights about my favorite show, Doctor Who. While a representative from BBC clarified that Doctor Who hasn’t been canceled, an inside source hints at a possible extended hiatus following the airing of the upcoming series. The Doctor Who team is gearing up for a return to the creative process once the current season wraps up. Stay tuned, Whovians!

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2025-02-19 04:52

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