Doctor Who spinoff 'The War Between the Land and the Sea' enters production

The BBC and Disney+'s Doctor Who partnership is well underway. The rebooted series aired earlier this year to mixed reviews; there were superb entries like "73 Yards" as well as more disappointing episodes like "Space Babies." The future of the partnership is up in the air. But at the least, Doctor Who will return for season 2 on Christmas Day, with Ncuti Gatwa in the lead role as the Fifthteenth Doctor. Also, a new spinoff, The War Between the Land and the Sea, has officially entered production.

The Whoniverse has had a number of spinoffs over the years. The most successful ones include the dark and gritty Torchwood and the child-friendly The Sarah Jane Adventures. This latest is the first spinoff produced that's able to access Disney's vast resources. Created by Russell T. Davies, The War Between the Land and the Sea is a UNIT-focused show. The Doctor is not involved; he's seemingly preoccupied at the time the spinoff happens. The main enemy is the Sea Devils, one of the Doctor's oldest villains dating back to the 1960s. The Sea Devils made their debut in the modern era of the show in 2022, during Jodie Whittaker's run.

Read the official synopsis for The War Between the Land and Sea below, with thanks to the BBC:

""When a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity, an international crisis is triggered. With the entire population at risk, UNIT step into action as the land and sea wage war.""

The series stars Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jemma Redgrave, Colin MacFarlane, and Alexander Devrient. To announce that the show is officially entering production, Doctor Who social media accounts shared a behind-the-scenes image of the cast after their first table read. Check it out:

The War Between the Land and the Sea is a five-episode series. All episodes will be directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, who helmed the Doctor Who episodes "Dot and Bubble" and "73 Yards." The series doesn't have a release date yet. We'll keep you posted!

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