Russell T Davies' return to Doctor Who sent Whovians across the world into a frenzy of excitement, and while this marks his first time serving as the series' showrunner in over a decade, he has plans to stick around for the long haul.
During an interview with SFX (via SFFGazette.com), Davies revealed he's already planning season 3 and will later tackle a fourth batch of episodes. He's also confirmed that season 14 will, in fact, be season 1. Ncuti Gatwa's debut is clearly meant as the start of a new era for Doctor Who, with this holiday's 60th-anniversary specials likely serving as a bridge between the franchise's past and future.
"I'm planning season 3 now, there’s plans for season 4," he tells the site. "Absolutely. Who knows? Who knows. I'm not getting any younger."
"At the risk of sounding sanctimonious, but I really, really mean this - they were going to do this to the show anyway and I genuinely thought, 'It needs looking after,'" Davies added, making it clear his latest Doctor Who stint means a lot to him.
Everything we've seen from Davies' return to the franchise suggests the beloved series has been given a fresh lick of paint, and casting Hollywood stars like Jonathan Groff and Neil Patrick Harris is sure to increase interest among casual viewers and non-fans alike.
With the show set to find a home on Disney+ outside the UK, Doctor Who will soon have its biggest audience. What's said to be a significant budget increase should help it feel more in line with The Mandalorian and Star Trek: Discovery, for example, and the next few years promise to take the TARDIS to new heights.
In other news, it's been announced that a new Doctor Who special will air on BBC One in the UK later this month as part of the annual Children In Need charity telethon. David Tennant will star, likely setting the stage for what's to come when the show returns with "The Star Beast" on November 25.
We've also learned that a special behind-the-scenes making-of will be released on BBC iPlayer as part of an exclusive Doctor Who: Unleashed episode. Children In Need airs on November 17.
As noted, Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes with Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor to coincide with the 60th anniversary. Ncuti Gatwa's first appearance as the Fifteenth Doctor is also expected to air over the festive period.
Season 14 1 doesn't have a confirmed premiere date but is expected to premiere in early 2024.