Doctor Who Showrunner Teases Bigger TARDIS As Result Of Disney Budget
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies teases the positive changes that will come from the show's new Disney budget, including a bigger TARDIS.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies hints that the show might be getting a bigger TARDIS due to the expanded budget from Disney. As Doctor Who returns for its 60th anniversary specials, BBC will partner with Disney for the first time. The first special episode, “The Star Beast,” will premiere on Disney+ on November 25.
As the show transitions, Davies hints at bigger things to come with Doctor Who’s expanded budget. While interviewed on BBC Newsround, Davies was asked what changes would be made to the upcoming Doctor Who episodes upon joining forces with Disney for the upcoming season.
Davies seemed excited about the partnership, saying that “the spaceships look a bit better” and even hinting that this version of the TARDIS will be “bigger than you’ve ever seen before.” Check out the full quote from Davies below:
“It means we got a bit more money. But not a fortune, we’re not up there with Star Wars’ budget or something. But, a nice bit of money so that the spaceships look a bit better, and some of the monsters look a bit better. We live in a huge world where there are so many science fiction shows. Doctor Who has to keep up, so it needed a bit of cash. But really, it’s absolutely the same old show, it’s the same old TARDIS. It’s…wait until you see the TARDIS, it’s huge. It’s great. Just bigger! That’s the best example, actually. The same old TARDIS, you know with the consoles, and the pillar in the middle with the lights, but bigger than you’ve ever seen before.”
How The Disney Partnership Is A Major Deal For Doctor Who’s Future?
Thanks to the Disney partnership, Doctor Who can reach global audiences more easily. Airing on Disney+, viewers outside the UK who may not have access to premium international channels like BBC will now be able to stream the show without having to wait until weeks after the episodes have aired. Disney+ is also expected to maintain its streaming partnership with the BBC into Doctor Who season 14.
The Disney partnership sparks many possibilities for the Doctor Who franchise like never before. The extended budget means that the show has a chance to revamp and elevate crucial sci-fi elements, such as the show’s monsters and production designs. In addition, this pushes the chances of expanding the series beyond just the flagship show. Davies previously expressed interest in making more spin-offs since a smaller budget likely limited the capacity to do so.
While the details of the budget increase are unknown, it is speculated that each episode could cost $10 million. Therefore, the updated budget is a huge advantage for season 14, which is expected to showcase much grander storytelling in Gatwa’s era. In particular, Doctor Who can “keep up” with other shows and see its visuals match its story greatness as it enters its next era.
