Next month, the classic British sci-fi series “Doctor Who” returns with a brand new season, which follows the Doctor and Ruby Sunday going on infinite adventures across time and space in the TARDIS. From the Regency era in England to war-torn futures, the duo champion the forces of good while encountering incredible friends and dangerous foes.

The show recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, and with the new season, it’s going through a soft reboot, making it a perfect time for new viewers to jump into the long-established franchise. “Doctor Who” debuted in 1963 and ran for 29 seasons before it ended in 1989.

The BBC then brought the show back in 2005 and back in 2022, it was announced that Disney and the BBC have joined together to bring this quintessentially British show to future generations on an unprecedented scale with Disney+ as the exclusive home for new seasons of Doctor Who outside the UK and Ireland.

Bringing Disney in as a partner has resulted in some major changes for the show, mainly from the increase in budget, with Russell T.Davis, who is the showrunner on the new season, explained to Variety:

“It’s not going to be a ‘Star Wars’ budget, and do you know what? Neither should it be. Because I do think, with no offense to anyone, if money disappeared tomorrow, we’d [still] make the best episode of ‘Doctor Who’ ever.”

He also explained how the show’s appearance on Disney+ will allow them to reach as many people as possible.

“I want every person in the world to watch ‘Doctor Who. We can just get bigger and get better reach, and it feels like exactly where ‘Doctor Who’ should be.”

The BBC has had to drastically reduce its spending on new content as the British government looks to reduce its budget. Bringing Disney in as a partner has helped boost the show’s budget to compete with other major shows. It will also give Disney+ a big new adventure series for the whole family.

The upcoming series stars Ncuti Gatwa as the fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson, who plays his companion, Ruby Sunday. Also starring in the upcoming series are Aneurin Barnard, Anita Dobson, Yasmin Finney, Michelle Greenidge, Jonathan Groff, Bonnie Langford, Genesis Lynea, Jemma Redgrave, Lenny Rush, Indira Varma and Angela Wynter.

“Doctor Who” is produced by Bad Wolf, with BBC Studios for Disney Branded Television and BBC. Under the creative vision of Davies, the additional executive producers include Phil Collinson, Joel Collins, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter. The new season features episodes directed by Ben Chessell, Jamie Donoughue, Julie Anne Robinson and Dylan Holmes Williams.

The upcoming new season will be released simultaneously worldwide on Friday, 10th May 2024, at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Disney+ in the U.S. and internationally (excluding the UK). In the UK, the season kicks off Saturday, 11th May 2024, at 12:00 a.m. GMT on BBC iPlayer, followed by BBC One later that day. Disney will also be re-releasing the Christmas special, “The Church on Ruby Road,” on Disney+ internationally.

Are you looking forward to the return of “Doctor Who”? Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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