Doctor Whoshowrunner Russell T Davies explains why the series has not been renewed for season 16 yet. Davies kicked off a new era ofDoctor Whoafter returning as showrunner with new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa in season 14. The series made a shift for US audiences with the long-running show now airing on Disney+.Doctor Whoseason 15has been announced and production is underway.
In an interview withSFX Magazinevia Games Radar, Russell details why season 16 has yet to be renewed. Russell is not concerned, ashe believes the series will be picked up for another season after season 15 airsand that renewal announcements take time. With season 15 not debuting until 2025, any announcement for season 16 will likely not come for a while.
It’s an industry decision, it’s like any business – these things take time. I think the decision will come after the transmission of season two. That’s what we’re expecting, that’s what we’ve always been heading towards.
Will Doctor Who Get Renewed For Season 16?
Davies Has Already Been Working On Scripts For The Season
Despite not having an official renewal, Davies has confirmed that he is already working on scripts for season 16. Given how long the show has been on the air,Davies has confidence that the show will be picked up for an additional season. This may be due to a plan to expand theDoctor Whouniverse beyond the primary show with additional TV spinoffs.The War Between The Land And The Seaspinoffis already in production and will see returning faces fromDoctor Who. The show will also return at the end of the year for a Christmas special.
Doctor Whois likely to be renewed for season 16. At a time in the entertainment industry where franchises reign supreme,Doctor Whohas more history than almost anything available. Although the show has faced cancellation before,Doctor Whohas managed to keep coming back and maintain itself as a popular series. An aspect that may play into whether the series is renewed or not may be the increased budget that is available through the deal with Disney+. AsDoctor Whois working with a new streamer, there is no precedent set for how long an announcement will take.
The show has the advantage of always being able to reinvent itself.
Even if ratings slip forDoctor Who, the show has the advantage of always being able to reinvent itself. Typically, showrunners will cycle out after a few seasons, and theDoctor can always regenerateinto a new iteration of the character. With Davies' explanation and the established history ofDoctor Who, the show will likely see a renewal for season 16 and beyond.
Doctor Who
Cast
Doctor Who: Released on August 02, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
