The BBC has confirmed that its co-production partnership with Disney on the “Doctor Who” franchise has ended, according to a new report from Deadline. Multiple sources cited various reasons behind the deal’s conclusion, including concerns related to a “woke” backlash.
A former Disney executive told Deadline, “It was pretty apparent from early on that this wasn’t for the long term. Everyone got the impression that it wasn’t doing what it needed to do [on Disney+] to be sustained.”
According to Deadline, a “well-placed industry source” revealed that “Doctor Who became ‘too woke for Trump’s USA,’ and this was ‘a factor in Disney minds’ when it came to a renewal.”
Under writer Russell Davies, the series has featured significant moments such as casting transgender actress Yasmin Finney, introducing drag queen Jinkx Monsoon as a villain, and showcasing a historic gay kiss between Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff. Some of these developments reportedly drew complaints from BBC viewers.
Another source close to the British sci-fi series said, “The writing has been on the wall for ages. There has been a complete lack of enthusiasm over at Disney.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Disney for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Ncuti Gatwa, who portrays the 15th Doctor, reportedly struggled to grow the series’ established fan base. The Black Scottish actor was the second attempt to update the role from its traditional White male protagonist, following Jodie Whittaker’s tenure as the 13th Doctor, who was the first female iteration of the character.
The report also highlighted “an alarming drop-off” in viewership, noting a decline of one million viewers that coincided with Gatwa taking over the lead role from Whittaker. “The ratings were not up too much,” a source close to the matter commented to Deadline.
Deadline further reported that a Disney insider expressed “regret” over the significant investment in the series, which was budgeted at $11.6 million per episode.
With the end of this partnership, the future direction of “Doctor Who” remains uncertain as the BBC seeks new avenues for the iconic sci-fi saga.
https://www.foxnews.com/deals/disney-cancels-doctor-who-bbc-collab-fearing-woke-backlash
