Doctor Who Director Breaks Silence on Disney Deal

Doctor Who director Peter Hoar has broken his silence on the collapse of Disney's multi-million dollar partnership with the BBC's flagship sci-fi series. In a candid interview, the filmmaker behind episodes for both Matt Smith and Ncuti Gatwa admitted that despite the injection of significant funding, something ultimately went wrong with the collaboration.

The director's comments come months after Disney officially confirmed it would not continue its co-funding arrangement with the long-running series. What began as a promising global partnership has ended with the BBC left to navigate the show's future alone, with only a single Christmas special currently confirmed for 2026.

Disney+ originally entered a lucrative co-funding agreement with the BBC for Doctor Who, providing substantial financial backing for the show's recent seasons. This partnership supported the production of episodes featuring Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor, including The Robot Revolution and Lucky Day, which formed part of the show's second season under the new arrangement.

However, the collaboration proved short-lived. The BBC was forced to publicly confirm that Disney had walked away from the deal after months of speculation about the show's future. The streaming giant's exit left the production in a precarious position, with the BBC's Director of Drama, Lindsay Salt, issuing a carefully worded statement thanking Disney for its partnership while emphasizing the corporation's continued commitment to the series.

The breakdown of negotiations reportedly stemmed from several key concerns:

• Questions surrounding the show's production budget
• Shrinking audience figures for the series
• Uncertainty about breaking through to mainstream American audiences

Speaking to Deadline, Peter Hoar offered a remarkably frank evaluation of why the partnership failed to deliver its promised results. Having directed episodes for both the classic Matt Smith era and the modern Gatwa incarnation, Hoar's perspective carries significant weight within the industry.

I don't think anybody would doubt the skills at the front line of that show but something went wrong. I think there were lots of areas you could point fingers at but ultimately it wasn't a better show with more money.

Hoar's assessment suggests that despite the Disney investment bringing enhanced production values to the series, the creative execution did not necessarily improve proportionally. The director, who also worked on Daredevil and The Last of Us, framed the situation as a broader industry challenge rather than a unique failure.

He noted that with other streamers also becoming more economical with their investments, the landscape has shifted dramatically. We haven't got the money anymore, nobody has, Hoar observed, suggesting the contraction extends beyond just Doctor Who.

The collapse of the Doctor Who deal has created a noticeable gap in the UK's genre television market. Matthew Bouch, a producer working with Hoar on a Blake's 7 reboot, explicitly cited the Doctor Who situation when discussing their new project's timing.

Bouch noted the pair had identified a gap in the market in the UK – particularly with the well-publicized dropping off of Doctor Who – for genre-based British IP. This candid admission highlights how the series' struggles have created opportunities for other productions to fill the void left by the BBC's flagship show.

The situation has also prompted commentary from within Doctor Who's own creative family. Mark Gatiss, an actor, writer, and noted superfan of the series, recently suggested the show was in need of a rest. This sentiment reflects broader concerns about the series' direction and its ability to maintain audience engagement.

The BBC's response has been measured but firm. While acknowledging the end of the Disney partnership, the corporation has emphasized its long-term commitment to Doctor Who as one of its most beloved dramas.

Following Disney's exit, the BBC moved quickly to reassure fans about Doctor Who's future. Lindsay Salt, the corporation's Director of Drama, issued a statement that balanced gratitude for the past partnership with confidence about the show's future.

We would like to thank Disney+ for being terrific global partners and collaborators over the past two seasons, and for the upcoming The War Between the Land and the Sea. The BBC remains fully committed to Doctor Who, which continues to be one of our most loved dramas.

The BBC confirmed that Russell T Davies has agreed to write another spectacular Christmas special for 2026. This single episode represents the only currently confirmed production for the series, a significant reduction from the multi-season commitments previously planned.

The corporation has assured fans that the Doctor is not going anywhere, with plans for the next series to be announced in due course. However, the scale and scope of future productions remain uncertain as the BBC navigates the post-Disney landscape.

The collapse of the Disney partnership marks a significant turning point for Doctor Who, one of television's longest-running and most beloved franchises. Peter Hoar's candid assessment that it wasn't a better show with more money suggests the challenges facing the series run deeper than mere financial investment.

As the BBC prepares to produce a single Christmas special for 2026, the future of the TARDIS remains in flux. The corporation faces the dual challenge of maintaining the show's production values while operating within a more constrained budget, all while addressing creative concerns that have emerged from both fans and industry insiders.

For now, Doctor Who continues its journey through time and space, but the path forward appears more uncertain than at any point in its six-decade history. The series that has survived multiple cancellations and reboots must now navigate a television landscape that has fundamentally changed since its last major revival.