Since the classic British sci-fi series was rebooted in 2005, Doctor Who has continued to gain popularity around the world, and the upcoming 15th season is already looking to be the biggest yet. Originally debuting in 1963 on the BBC, the series concerns a mysterious alien known only as The Doctor, who travels through time and space with several human companions in his ship, the TARDIS. With adventures that range from cheesy to terrifying, Doctor Who continued to captivate audiences with emotional stories between stars, in the past, and even in alternate dimensions.
The original Doctor Who the series ran from 1963 until its cancellation in 1989, and although a backdoor pilot in 1996 went nowhere, the series was properly rebooted in 2005. The era affectionately known as “New Who” has now become an ongoing juggernaut of TV and has added seven new doctors to the equation in the years since its debut. Ncuti Gatwa is the latest actor to take on the role, and with Doctor WhoWith the Disney+ partnership, the Doctor's 15th era is yet another fresh start for the oldest science fiction franchise of all time.
Doctor Who season 15 latest news
The trailer for season 15 is revealed
Right after the 2024 Christmas special (“Joy to the World”), the latest news arrives in the form of a trailer for Doctor Who season 15. Ncuti Gatwa's second attempt as the Time Lord is starting with a bang as the short provocation not only introduces a new companion, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu)but teases the return of Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). Tasked with taking Chandra back to Earth, the Doctor will also encounter robots, a jump into outer space and even a terrifying cartoon coming out of a cinema screen in the mid-20th century.
Doctor Who season 15 is confirmed
Seasons 14 and 15 were renewed simultaneously
Considering the immense popularity Doctor Who the BBC's decision to renew the show for two seasons at once wasn't really surprising. Despite changing the main actors every few years since 2005, Doctor Who its relevance has hardly waned and the start of the Disney+ era is a chance for the show to expand its reach even further.
Doctor Who Season 15 Is Technically Season 2
The Disney+ era resets season numbers
The decision was likely made to try and attract new viewers who were perhaps daunted by 13 seasons of TV that they might need to catch up on.
One of the biggest changes made with the official start of the Disney+ era of Doctor Who is that the season numbering has officially been reset. Although the story canon is still intact, Doctor Who season 14 was technically season 1, making season 15 technically season 2. The decision was likely made to try to attract new viewers who might have been daunted by 13 seasons of TV they might need to catch up on, but it also led to confusion. Doctor Who now has three separate seasons, making starting points plentiful for the growing Whovians.
Doctor Who Season 15 Production Status
A release window has already been revealed
Despite Season 14 still being so new, production is already underway Doctor Who season 15. Plus, a release window for Doctor Who the 15th season has already been revealed and suggests that the series will return to its annual trajectory. According to recent reports, season 15 is scheduled to premiere in May 2025exactly one year after the 14th season premiered. With production wrapping in May 2024, there's no doubt that season 15 will arrive on time.
Doctor Who season 15 cast
Ncuti Gatwa will return as a doctor
The cast of Doctor Who Season 15 has been the subject of much speculation since Rumors emerged that the Doctor's newest companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), would depart after series 14. While other news suggests that Ruby will appear in season 15, newcomer Varada Sethu is being groomed to become the Doctor's newest companion in season 15. 15th Doctor actor Ncuti Gatwa is already confirmed to reprise the role in the 15th season.
Also confirmed to return is Mrs. Flood (played by Anita Dobson), who will play a larger role after some shocking teases in season 14.The Little Mermaid) joined the cast of season 15, but nothing is known about his role yet. Likewise, newcomer Archie Panjabi (The good wife) is set to play an as-yet-unnamed villain in upcoming episodes.
The confirmed cast for season 15 includes:
|
Actor |
Role of Doctor Who |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ncuti Gatwa |
The doctor |
|
|
Millie Gibson |
Ruby Sunday |
|
|
Varada Sethu |
Belinda Chandra |
|
|
Jemma Redgrave |
Kat Stewart |
|
|
Bonnie Langford |
Honey Bush |
|
|
Ruth Madeley |
Ann Bingham |
|
|
Alexandre Devrient |
Colonel Ibrahim |
|
|
Michelle Greenidge |
Carla Domingo |
|
|
Angela Winter |
Cherry Sunday |
|
|
Anita Dobson |
Mrs. |
|
|
Jonah Hauer-King |
Unknown |
|
|
Archie Panjabi |
Unknown |
|
Doctor Who season 15 story
More adventures in time and space
At this juncture, It's impossible to know exactly what will happen in season 15 of Doctor Who. The Doctor's adventures are best when they're unexpected, and each episode is usually a self-contained story that can touch on overarching themes. The best Doctor Who Stories typically involve many of the Doctor's best-known enemies, such as Daleks or Cybermen, but can also be character-driven. Season 14 has already set the tone for the Ncuti Gatwa eraand this will likely inform the types of adventures the Doctor will face in season 15.
In the final episode of season 14, The Doctor and Ruby were able to defeat Suketh, releasing him into a time vortex. This means that the next season will need to introduce new conflicts, especially when coupled with the revelation of Ruby's normal parentage. While this may have disappointed some viewers, it leaves the door open for Doctor Who Season 15 will be the true blank slate that the Disney era had imagined.
Chandra becomes a passenger in the TARDIS, and it's up to the Doctor to get her back to Earth safely.
The first teaser for season 15 gave some clues about what's to come next season, including new companion Belinda Chandra. Although all the details are not yet known, Chandra becomes a passenger in the TARDIS, and it is up to the Doctor to get her back to Earth safely. The teaser also shows the return of Ruby Sunday, but it's unclear how she will factor into the season.
Doctor Who season 15 trailers
Watch the teaser below
Released on Christmas Day 2024, the first provocation to Doctor Who season 15 came right after the Christmas episode, “Joy to the World.” The short teaser introduces new companion Belinda Chandra, who finds herself in the TARDIS and demands that the Doctor take her back home. Meanwhile, the Doctor encounters strange robots, takes a trip to outer space and comes across a living cartoon that descends from a cinema screen.