Photo: BBC

Armed with a newly acquired deep Disney pocketbook, it looks like there are potential Doctor Who spin-off programs in the works. Programs, good or bad, that weren’t even on the ‘let’s discuss’ track until the recent streaming acquisition by Disney+.

While new Doctor Who episodes might still be months away, returning showrunner Russell T Davies has kept the news coming, now confirming that new spin-offs are officially on the way.

It’s been rumored of late that, with a big new budget and the backing of Disney Plus, Doctor Who could turn into a Marvel or Star Wars-style universe, with spin-offs based on iconic monsters like the Daleks and Cybermen.

Davies told GQ: “So I thought – with no criticism whatsoever towards the people who were running it at the time, because they were running it within the BBC’s measures – it was time for the next stage for Doctor Who. I thought the streaming platforms are ready, the spin-offs are ready; I always believed in spin-offs when I was there. I did Torchwood as a spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures as a spin-off.

“Those spin-offs declined when I left, and I can see why. And I very much left after 2008, when the money became scarce. I think that’s fair enough for the public service broadcaster that the money is spent on other things.”

According to Radio Times, spin-offs aren’t the only thing that Davies is bringing back from his first reign as showrunner, as Doctor Who icons David Tennant (who will be playing the 14th Doctor) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble) will be starring in three specials for the 60th anniversary, alongside new cast members like Yasmin Finney and Neil Patrick Harris.

Afterwards, Ncuti Gatwa will take over the keys to the TARDIS, with Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday) as his companion.

While those of you who have been long-time readers of Tellyspotting know that I’m not a huge fan of sequels or spin-offs, it does looks like we have a lot to look forward to in the future Who-niverse at least for those with the 15th Doctor. After Gatwa’s first read-through, Davis told GQ: “…he’s beautiful in every sense”.