Doctor Who Spinoff The War Between the Land and the Sea Gets Future Update

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With the new Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, premiering next week on BBC and Disney+, creator Russell T Davies has discussed what the future holds for the show. While it’s currently planned as a five-episode miniseries, it’s unclear if there are plans for more episodes beyond the first season, or if the story will conclude with the finale.

Davies has confirmed the story has a definitive ending, urging viewers to watch right through the credits. He clarified that while it might seem like the Doctor reappears, that isn’t actually what happens. He emphasized that the story’s conclusion unfolds even as the credits begin to roll, so viewers shouldn’t stop watching when they see them.

Davies hinted at a particularly impactful finale, calling it one of the most powerful endings and highlighting an extraordinary performance from a cast member unlike anything viewers have seen before.

The War Between the Land and the Sea is a story about a battle between humans and the Sea Devils, a race of amphibious creatures featured in the classic 1970s Doctor Who series. The Sea Devils, who call themselves Homo Aqua, live in the deep oceans.

The War Between the Land and the Sea Is the First Step Into Doctor Who’s Future

In the story, Barclay (played by Russell Tovey) and Salt (played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw) start to develop a connection and build trust, even as conflict grows between humans and the Sea Devils. Jemma Redgrave returns as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, the head of UNIT, from Doctor Who.

This is a peculiar moment for the Doctor Who series. Russell Davies originally envisioned The War Between the Land and the Sea as the first step towards building a shared universe for Doctor Who, similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, recent changes mean it will now be the final story released through the partnership between the BBC and Disney.

Disney+ became the only place to stream Doctor Who outside of the UK, starting with three special episodes celebrating the show’s 60th anniversary, featuring David Tennant and Catherine Tate. Ncuti Gatwa then took over as the Fifteenth Doctor, starring in two new seasons. But because Ncuti Gatwa was in high demand and Disney and the BBC were slow to decide about the show’s future, Billie Piper, who previously played the companion Rose Tyler, was brought back to join the cast.

For months, the future of Doctor Who was unclear, with many people wondering if the show would be canceled. Things became more certain in October when it was announced that Doctor Who will be back in 2026, starting with a Christmas special written by Russell T Davies. The announcement also confirmed that Davies and his team will share plans for future series soon, ensuring the Doctor’s adventures continue.

The War Between the Land and the Seas will premiere on the BBC’s iPlayer and Disney+ on Dec. 7.

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2025-11-28 20:17