Hollywood screenwriter Dean Devlin has publicly confirmed his interest in rebooting the long-running science fiction series Doctor Who. This comes as the BBC is reportedly seeking new production partners for the show.
Devlin, known for co-writing films such as Stargate and Independence Day, as well as directing the disaster movie Geostorm, leads the Los Angeles-based production company Electric Entertainment. The company has expressed a desire to "have a discussion" with the BBC regarding the future of Doctor Who.
A recent report in The Times suggested that Electric Entertainment had already initiated talks with the BBC and was particularly interested in bringing back former star David Tennant. This report raised questions, as the BBC's official process for selecting a co-production partner had not yet been publicly announced.
However, in a statement to Radio Times, Devlin clarified that negotiations between the BBC and Electric Entertainment had not officially begun, "preliminary or otherwise." He affirmed that his company would express its interest "when the proper time comes [and] when they are prepared to speak with people."
This statement follows an earlier social media post by Devlin, where he shared an AI-generated video depicting himself alongside several former Doctor Who actors on the TARDIS set. He captioned the video, "So BBC is putting Doctor Who out to tender. Do you think they should partner with us at Electric Entertainment?"
Currently, BBC Studios, the broadcaster's commercial arm, is considered the most likely contender for the series' rights. Doctor Who was previously produced by Bad Wolf, a company established by former BBC executives, which also produced His Dark Materials.
The potential return of David Tennant's Doctor presents a narrative possibility. His most recent incarnation, the Fourteenth Doctor, is still active and residing on Earth with his own TARDIS, offering a direct story continuation that bypasses the recent Ncuti Gatwa era.
Doctor Who last aired an episode in May 2025, following Ncuti Gatwa's departure from the series. Co-funding partner Disney had officially confirmed its withdrawal from the series shortly thereafter. Russell T Davies, the showrunner for that era, had also announced his departure in June, with the previously confirmed Christmas Special for that year not being produced.
As a BBC-funded program, Doctor Who relies on the broadcaster's public budget, which has faced real-terms cuts over the last decade. This financial pressure, coupled with rising production costs and expectations, led to the BBC's initial partnership with Disney for the Ncuti Gatwa era and the current search for a new co-production partner.
Recent reports citing TV industry insiders suggest that Doctor Who might not return to screens for up to five years as production is rebuilt. Former showrunner Chris Chibnall has also cautioned that addressing the show's current challenges will require time, noting that "primarily about money" is the series' most pressing issue.