Article Overview
Russell T Davies is returning to Doctor Who and planning seasons 3 and 4.
Davies' second run will kick off with the 60th Anniversary specials led by David Tennant, followed by the introduction of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor.
Doctor Who season 14, with its larger budget, will showcase fresh faces in the cast, new locations, and probably new adversaries, while also paying tribute to beloved episodes from the past.
Doctor Who's new era is already being planned through season four, following its immense popularity under showrunner Russell T Davies in 2005. Davies, along with David Tennant and Ncuti Gatwa as the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors respectively, will be returning after Steven Moffat and Chris Chibnall's tenure from 2010 to 2022. Davies' initial run on the show lasted four seasons.
With his upcoming era, Davies is expected to have a similarly long tenure. Alongside his involvement in the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials, he has been working on future seasons led by Gatwa, known for his work on Sex Education. In an interview with SFX Magazine, Davies revealed that he is already planning for season 3 and 4. Here's what he had to say:
"No, I'm planning season three now, there's plans for season four. Absolutely. Who knows? Who knows. I'm not getting any younger."
The Future Of Doctor Who
The launch of Davies' second run with Doctor Who will coincide with the highly anticipated 60th Anniversary specials. Scheduled for broadcast on November 25th, December 2nd, and December 9th consecutively, these three specials will feature Tennant reprising his iconic role as the Doctor, accompanied by the return of Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. Together, they will confront the nefarious Celestial Toymaker, portrayed by none other than Neil Patrick Harris, before the expected regeneration of the Fourteenth Doctor into Gatwa's interpretation.
Russell T Davies, a passionate Doctor Who fan, successfully brought back the show after a 16-year break.
Gatwa's tenure as the Doctor will officially kick off with this regeneration. Additionally, with Disney+ taking on the role of international distributor, the BBC now has the resources to provide Doctor Who with a substantially larger budget. This could potentially lead to more extravagant adventures featuring enhanced, lifelike special effects. Given the show's past reliance on creative methods, such as using plungers on salt shakers to portray menacing villains, the increased budget could bring about significant changes in the visual effects department.
Doctor Who season 14 is set to introduce a fresh cast, new settings, and possibly new adversaries that will challenge the Doctor throughout various time periods and dimensions. Similar to the way the Christopher Eccleston era revamped the show, Davies aims to rejuvenate Doctor Who while still paying homage to beloved episodes and creatures from the past. Davies is eagerly prepared to embark on his new era, spanning across four seasons.
Editor's P/S
Russell T Davies' return to Doctor Who is a momentous occasion for fans of the long-running sci-fi series. His initial run as showrunner from 2005 to 2010 revitalized the show and brought it to new heights of popularity. Now, with his announcement that he is already planning for seasons 3 and 4 of his new era, it's clear that he has big plans for the future of the show.
One of the most exciting things about Davies' return is his promise to introduce fresh faces, new locations, and new adversaries to the show. This suggests that he is not afraid to take the show in new directions and explore new ideas. At the same time, he has also said that he wants to pay tribute to beloved episodes and creatures from the past. This suggests that he understands the importance of respecting the show's history and giving fans what they want.