Summary
Doctor Whohas served a long tenure as one of the top items in the world of small-screen science fiction series, and now the iconic franchise seems poised to potentially open the forbidden door and partner up with a worthy contemporary.
Doctor Whofirst debuted in the UK in the 1960s and has since enjoyed far more longevity than other comparable programs due largely to an interesting in-universe gimmick: the show’s protagonist (the eponymous Doctor) regenerates on death, taking on a different form and occasionally approach to the world. This has not just given the series a long lifespan but also given audiencesmany different takes on The Doctor over the years, varying from a dangerous interdimensional saboteur to a lovable trickster with a heart of gold. In the current media landscape, the show stands far above most other offerings in the genre, especially on the small screen.
One of the few franchises that stands in the same clime asDoctor WhoisStar Trek,another product of the 1960s that got its start in the US and has also cycled through leads to outlast any one iteration of the show, thoughStar Trek’sprotagonistsgenerally meet a different fate each time, unlike the Doctor. WithStar Trekbeing an American invention the two franchises have previously had little interaction, but that might change sometime soon. As it turns out, , legendary and currentDoctor Whoshowrunner Russell T. Davies and Alex Kurtzman, the reigning executive producer overseeing theStar Trekfranchise, were both present at San Diego Comic-Con and engaged in a discussion set up byTVLine. The two got on famously, and Davies had some very encouraging words for the fans when the topic of a crossover was broached, declaring his support and specifying that it was up to them to get the two franchises together.
We would love to bring you a crossover episode, and the way we can make that happen is the fans. Fans continue to make crossover art and stories and continue to ask and push to bring these two universes together. Because we must get together. It must happen.
For his part, Kurtzman highlighted the similarities between both franchises and how they’re really of the same stock, saying, “We share values. We share perspectives of the world. We want to tell stories that are illuminating about the human race. Each iteration of The Doctor and each iteration of Trek has endeavored to do that for every generation that it serves. It’s that beautiful connection.” This kinship is evident in many aspects of both shows,such as the parallels between the Borg and the CybermenfromStar TrekandDoctor Whorespectively.
There’s already a bit of a crossover going on at the moment between the twosci-fi franchises’ mobile games,Star Trek: Lower Decks MobileandDoctor Who: Lost in Time, with both games hosting an event where both tell the same interdimensional story from two different perspectives, with The Doctor being transported ontoStar Trek: Lower Deck’sU.S.S. Cerritos whileLower Deckscastmembers Lieutenant Brad Boimler and Ensign Beckett Mariner are thrown into theDoctor Whouniverse. This prototypical idea is actually a very solid plot for a crossover episode, and it is actually a bit wasted on niche mobile games. However, there will be other equally interesting plots to work with in the future, and the working relationship established will certainly be a help down the line as well.
It’s a bit unfortunate that there isn’t a more robust collaborationt aking place at the moment, as there’s a rumor going around thatDisney is set to cancelDoctor Whoafter 2 seasons due to ‘underwhelming’ viewership. This point in time seems to mark a peak period for cross-atlantic interest in both series, and it might be a while before things are this convenient again.
Doctor Whois available to stream on Disney+ outside the UK.
Doctor Who / Whoniverse
BBC’s Doctor Who debuted in 1963, with the franchise producing more than 25 seasons since then. Along with the beloved main sci-fi show(s), the franchise has spawned multiple spin-offs, books, games, etc.
