A new Doctor Who spin-off series is coming, and has just concluded filming, meaning that a release date can’t be too far away. Helmed by showrunner Russell T. Davies, The War Between the Land and the Sea will follow the events of a multinational war caused by the return of the Sea Devils, a villain that was most recently featured in a special episode featuring the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker).
With an ensemble cast including Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki, Surface), Russell Tovey (Being Human), and George Robinson (Sex Education), The War Between the Land and the Sea was first announced at the San Diego Comic Con in July. Now, after just a few short months — including 80 total days of filming — filming has officially wrapped. Davies revealed the exciting news himself in a selfie on Instagram, which he captioned: “That’s a wrap! THE WAR BETWEEN THE LAND AND THE SEA ends its shoot today after 80 days!” Davies also praised the cast and crew, adding that the completed show would be “astonishing.”
Surprisingly absent of Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, this spin-off series still has plenty of appeal, especially for older Doctor Who fans. The main villains, the Sea Devils, were first introduced back in 1975, and haven’t appeared since 2022, when they faced off against the Thirteenth Doctor. The War Between the Land and the Sea also features UNIT, a military organization that also has its roots in the classic Who after debuting in 1968. Although no release date has been confirmed, the series will air on BBC One as well as Disney+ sometime in 2025. In the meantime, fans can check out Davies’ official post-production selfie below.
Russell T. Davies’ Spin-off Series is a Good Omen for ‘Doctor Who’
Despite consisting of just five episodes, filming for The War Between the Land and the Sea was completed unusually quickly — especially in a world where fans often wait years for the development of new projects (looking at you, Stranger Things). This is already a positive indicator of the show’s quality, since it means there’s likely to be an experienced and extensive team working behind the scenes. A speedy production time could also represent the BBC’s confidence in The War Between the Land and the Sea, as Davies could be desperate for a win with the audience after mixed reactions to Ncuti Gatwa’s first season as the Fifteenth Doctor. Dropping a wildly successful spin-off series could bump ratings and even revitalize interest in Doctor Who, setting the stage for Gatwa’s future appearances.
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As the creator of the series, Davies’ optimism and excitement is also an undeniably good omen. After all, he received overwhelmingly positive reviews for Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary three-episode special, which sparked excitement for further installments. Having done it once before, Davies is more than capable of pulling off the same trick with The War Between the Land and the Sea.
