The future of Doctor Who is currently in limbo following the shocking end of the show’s most recent season. Ncuti Gatwa’s time as the Doctor was brought to an end as he regenerated, with fans being left stunned as none other than Billie Piper ended up returning to take on the titular character.

Now, fans are patiently waiting to see whether or not a third season of Doctor Who will be greenlit. Nothing official is available at this point. However, new rumors are circulating about what the future of the science fiction series might look like, and they could involve a familiar face in David Tennant.

Doctor Who Is Reportedly Setting Up Plans For David Tennant’s Return

David Tennant Would Be Able To Reunite With Billie Piper In A Nostalgic Moment

Tennant is one of the most popular versions of the Doctor, and anytime he’s involved in the show, it tends to attract plenty of interest. That’s why there are plans for him to reprise the role at least once more for a project to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Doctor Who’s revival. According to The Sun, there are talks about Tennant and Piper reuniting for one last moment, which would draw a lot of attention to the series. Tennant is technically still alive in canon right now, as the Fourteenth version of the Time Lord bi-generated to form Gatwa’s version, and he also has a Tardis. Therefore, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for him to return.

He was last seen enjoying an everyday life on Earth with Donna Noble and her family, but the idea of him reuniting with Piper is something that many fans would love to see. Their partnership during Tennant’s original run remains one of the most popular Doctor and companion relationships in the show’s history. Still, right now, there is no official word on whether or not this will happen. BBC could implement this idea as part of the Christmas special episode, which is something that typically takes place when the show is active. However, at this point, it’s all simply rumor and speculation, with no clear answers being given about Tennant or Doctor Who generally.

Doctor Who Is Hoping To Provide A Rating Bump By Bringing Popular Stars Back Together

A Third Series Might Be Approved If The Episode Draws In An Audience

Doctor Who seemingly making Piper the next version of the Doctor felt like a grab for attention and ratings due to how popular her character used to be, and doing this one-off episode has a similar feeling. However, there’s no denying that it might be effective because they’re two of the most popular actors in the Whoniverse, and tapping into that could be beneficial. The idea behind it would be to get enough people talking about the show in one episode to get the intrigue to where it needs to be for a third season to be created. But on the flip side, if it doesn’t do well with two characters like this involved, then it would be a disaster and potentially a final nail in the coffin for Doctor Who, which is what makes the decision so risky.

Doctor Who Is Taking A Risk With Relying Upon More Nostalgia

Eventually, Doctor Who Has To Start Focusing On The Future To Attract New Fans

Doctor Who bringing Tennant and Piper back together will excite many fans who watched their era of the show live at the time. Their bond was strong, and seeing them both as the Doctor simultaneously opened up many storyline possibilities. At the same time, it’s a significant risk for the show to take at a time when ratings are down and the future of the show is uncertain. Fans want to be given brand-new storylines and characters to drive Doctor Who forward, but the decision-makers continue to do the opposite. Gatwa’s two seasons as the Doctor were littered with too many past moments, making it difficult for new fans to jump in and truly immerse themselves in that world.

BBC could use this one-off episode to wrap up the bi-generation storyline, meaning the cloud of Tennant’s presence isn’t hanging over the show moving forward. However, reliance on the past cannot continue in the long term. There were elements of Gatwa’s era as the Doctor, where the show seemed to be getting that, especially in the first season with his partnership with Ruby Sunday. However, the more old-school moments that were referenced, the bigger the problems became, and it appears that the show might not have learned its lesson in that regard. While a one-off episode could be a lot of fun for fans, the pressure will be on it to end in a way that propels Doctor Who forward for the greater good. If this episode happens, then it needs to be about Doctor Who’s long-term future and not just a fun one-off moment to provide nostalgia.