SDCC 2024: ‘The War Between The Land And The Sea’ Expands The World Of ‘Doctor Who’
by Erik Amaya
Doctor Who spinoffs are back.
Announced during a Comic-Con International: San Diego 2024 panel on Friday celebrating the program’s recently concluded first season on Disney+ (outside of the UK and Ireland), The War Between The Land And The Sea is the first new television spinoff from Doctor Who since Class in 2016. Granted, some still wonder if that show really was meant to be spinoff despite Peter Capaldi‘s appearance as The Doctor in the pilot.
This new show, however, is definitely the real deal as it sees UNIT boss Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) and Colonel Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient) confronting a “fearsome and ancient species” known as the Sea Devils. Emerging from Earth’s oceans and making their presence known as never before, the resulting international crisis will need the aid of new characters played by Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. And, of course, it is always possible Kate will seek help from some of The Doctor’s former companions. At least three have experience with the Sea Devils, after all.
In a statement, co-creator Russell T. Davies said, “I’m so lucky to work with such a magnificent cast. And this is a huge, muscular, thrilling drama which will shake The Whoniverse to its foundations. When the Doctor’s not in town, the whole of humanity is in trouble.”
We’ll admit, we’re still reticent to use the term “Whoniverse,” but an expansion of the series after so long only speaks to the health of Doctor Who, which many online claim is in dire straits. Additionally, Davies’ collaborator on the spinoff is Pete McTighe, who produced many of the delightful ads for Doctor Who: The Collection box sets. In fact, he devised the one above, featuring Third Doctor companion Jo Jones (Katy Manning) rescuing a Sea Devil pup. As it happens, BBC Video recently announced McTighe would be taking a break from the ads. Now we know why.
The five-part series begins shooting next month with Dylan Holmes-William of recent Doctor Who episodes “73 Yards” and “Dot and Bubble” directing. It will air on Disney+ internationally and on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Ireland.
