“Never say never”: HBO CEO weighs in on potential partnership with BBC’s Doctor Who following Disney+ exit

After its Disney+ exit, Doctor Who, a popular British sci-fi drama, might head to HBO for its upcoming seasons. This possibility was hinted at by HBO CEO Casey Bloys in a recent Radio Times interview, where he was asked about a potential partnership between HBO and BBC's Doctor Who.

To which he replied:

"It has not been presented to us. As with anything, I would say 'Never say never' - it's just not something that I know about."

More on this in our story.

Will HBO partner with BBC's Doctor Who? Possibilities explored

Doctor Who is one of the classic long-running sci-fi series with a cult fan following. The BBC drama's partnership with Disney+ began in 2023 when the streamer released the 60th anniversary Doctor Who specials. Following this, two seasons: series 14 and 15, starring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, and a spin-off series titled The War Between the Land and the Sea, premiered on the streaming platform.

However, as reported by Deadline, the partnership came to an end in October 2025, with Lindsay Salt, BBC drama director, thanking Disney+ and saying:

"Terrific global partners and collaborators over the past two seasons, and for the upcoming The War Between the Land and the Sea."

Salt, in a recent interview with Deadline, revealed that the BBC's current focus is on the 2026 Christmas Special of the sci-fi series, which will air on the BBC. Furthermore, following a new partnership with HBO with Michaela Coel's new show, First Day on Earth, and Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd's upcoming show, Half Man, Salt did not rule out a potential partnership for the sci-fi series and stated:

"We’ll wait and see how we figure it out. HBO have been great partners creatively. There’s a lot of stuff that is changing out there."

Furthermore, with HBO's Casey Bloys' recent comment about a potential partnership, the doors seem to be open for the sci-fi series to partner with another popular American streamer.

More about Doctor Who

Doctor Who is set to return in 2026 with a Christmas special episode in December. While plot details have not been revealed, writer Russell T Davies shared in a Radio Times interview that the plot he shared with BBC bosses has left them "with jaws agape."

Composer Murray Gold, who has worked with Davies in various Doctor Who projects, revealed in a different Radio Times interview that Davies had written "multiple scripts" for the special and stated:

"I know that Russell’s written, I think, multiple versions depending on certain outcomes. So that’s all I really know, and I’m not sure [that] I’m even supposed to know that."

Furthermore, the previous season of the fan-favorite sci-fi series also introduced an exciting twist that brought a beloved character back. It was shown at the end of Series 15 that Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor regenerated into none other than Rose Tyler.

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