Ncuti Gatwa Reportedly Eyes Hollywood: ‘Doctor Who’ Star May Exit After Series 2

In 2023, Gatwa took on his biggest role yet as the Fifteenth Doctor in Doctor Who. Fans and critics have loved his energetic and charming performance. However recent insider reports claim that he is now looking toward new opportunities, with Hollywood calling his name.

Notable industry insider Daniel Richtman recently shared information related to the 15th Doctor. According to Richtman Gatwa has decided not to return for a third series of Doctor Who, as he wants to focus on advancing his career in Hollywood. Gatwa filmed a regeneration scene earlier this year during pick-up shots for the series, but now his departure is causing uncertainty about the future of the show.

The development of the Whoniverse is currently in limbo due to Gatwa’s exit, and although Doctor Who still enjoys a loyal fanbase, it hasn’t reached the level of success that everyone had hoped for. This leaves the future of the series and its expansion somewhat unclear.

Richtman shared this rumor on his Patreon account and if you have an active subscription you can check it out here.

Even though audiences generally liked Gatwa in the role, some backlash was present. In 2024, Ncuti Gatwa addressed the backlash he faced over his casting as the Doctor, which was partly due to his race. He pointed out that while white mediocrity is often celebrated, Black people are held to higher standards and expected to be flawless to achieve the same recognition.

Gatwa explained that he is learning to let go of these pressures, embracing the idea that he deserves love and success simply for existing, without needing to meet unrealistic expectations.

The 14th season also saw lower viewership numbers for its BBC One broadcast and iPlayer release than expected. However, showrunner Russell T Davies expressed that he was still pleased with the full 28-day viewership figures, particularly since the season resonated well with the under-30s demographic.

While Davies acknowledged a desire for higher ratings, the overall response from the younger audience was a positive outcome.

I mean, no, to be honest – I’m very proud of is! You know, they might not be the ratings we’d love. We always want highter. But they are building over the 28-day period. Episode one, “Space Babies”, is already up to 5.6 million and counting. So it is getting there. And actually, I was brought back to bring in a younger audience. That’s been massively successful.

The audience no one ever gets are the under-30s. They just don’t watch television anymore. But those figures are astronomic for Doctor Who, it’s there top programme in that bracket. I never thought it was possible, to be honest. But according to the people who juggle the numbers, all targets have been reached and exceeded. The BBC are running around like mad things.

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