Breakdown - The Future of Doctor Who (60th Anniversary/Disney+)

          Hey guys, Chuck here, and this is something I have been wanting to discuss for a few weeks now. In the most recent Doctor Who special, titled The Power of the Doctor , viewers witnessed the regeneration from the previous incarnation of the shape-shifting, time-traveling Doctor, who was portrayed by actress Jodie Whittaker. Now, many assumed that, given the casting announcement of Ncuti Gatwa, and his name is pronounced "shoo-tee" by the way, we would see the 30 year old Rwandan-Scottish actor take over the role. Surprisingly, what we saw instead was a regeneration from Jodie Whittaker to David Tennant, who previously portrayed the Tenth Doctor from 2005-2010, reprising the role for the 50th anniversary special in 2013. However, this time it's not the Tenth Doctor that Tennant is portraying this time, but the Fourteenth. 

         So, what the hell is going on here? Why is a previous actor playing a new incarnation of the Doctor instead of a new actor? Well, 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, which is a three-part event that will kick off next November. In addition to that, actor Ncuti Gatwa, who was hand-picked for the role by returning show runner Russell T. Davies, was unavailable due to filming the upcoming Warner Bros. film Barbie with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. So, how best to fill the void in the meantime and still have new Doctor Who content out for the 60th anniversary? Well, you get a fan-favorite actor back in the role, make it only for a limited time, and end it with the new guy taking over at the end. And there is no actor from Doctor Who more beloved by fans than David Tennant. 

           So, what does this mean? Well, this means that David Tennant is the Fourteenth Doctor, and Ncuti Gatwa will be the Fifteenth Doctor, who will lead the series going forward. Tennant's return is just for the anniversary, and that's it. But, there's plenty to be excited about with the anniversary, as a fan-favorite companion from the Tennant era is also returning, as Catherine Tate is returning as Donna Noble, and we will also see Neil Patrick Harris as a major character during the 60th anniversary specials, which is exciting. Once the specials are over, Ncuti Gatwa take over, and joining him will be actress Millie Gibson as the Doctor's new companion Ruby Sunday. 

         And if all of this wasn't intriguing enough, starting in 2023 with the 60th anniversary, all new episodes of Doctor Who will broadcast on BBC in the UK, and exclusively on Disney+ in the rest of the world, including the United States. Now, a lot of my American readers who are fans of Doctor Who may be puzzled by this, as the series was always featured on BBC America, while second-hand streaming has been elsewhere, with platforms like Netflix and HBO Max being among those that streamed the series. So, why Disney+? Well, I think it's all a matter of availability. Most countries don't yet have every major streaming platform, but among the ones that are globally available is Disney+, which is already home to fantastic series like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Moon Knight, and so on and so forth. Also, this deal with Disney+ also allows for an increase in production budget, which is awesome. However, I do need to mention that BBC Studios will still hold complete creative control with the series, not Disney. 

          For me, at least, the neat thing about this move is that it makes it easier for me to watch Doctor Who on a regular basis. Unfortunately, I.am not always able to take the time to watch Doctor Who on a weekly basis on BBC America, so, I often find myself missing out on new seasons. With this move to Disney+, it makes it easier for me to catch it more regularly. With my constantly shifting schedule, watching weekly television is difficult, whereas streaming television is a lot easier. And one of the streaming platforms I most frequent is Disney+, so that makes things much simpler. 

        So, with this move to Disney+, the returns of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, the mystery behind who Neil Patrick Harris is going to be in the 60th anniversary, and the pending debuts of Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, I am definitely looking forward to the future of Doctor Who starting in 2023. How about you guys, are you excited? Do you watch Doctor Who? Or are you perhaps interested in checking it out when it arrives with new episodes on Disney+ next year? Whichever it is, let's all be glad we are living in an era where streaming television is allowing such franchises as Doctor Who, Star Wars, and Star Trek to thrive in a constantly shifting pop culture landscape. 

        This is Chuck signing off, and be sure to join Monday when I take a look at a classic from director Francis Ford Coppola. 

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