Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has given fans a glimpse of the upcoming spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, ahead of its premiere next week.
The five-episode series will star Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jemma Redgrave, and Alexander Devrient, following the story of an international crisis triggered when an ancient aquatic species emerges from the deep to confront humankind.
It is the final project to come from the now-cancelled deal between BBC and Disney Plus, which was announced last month.
Speaking to Metro at the series premiere, Doctor Who creator Davies confirmed that The War Between the Land and the Sea will be a standalone series and have a “very definite end.”
“It is a limited series because there is a very, very definite ending, and I would say to people stay tuned for the very end [post-credits],” he began.
BBC
Related: Doctor Who merchandise and gift ideas
“That doesn’t mean the Doctor appears; it stays within its own universe, but the credits start to roll, and you get one of the best scenes ever recorded in the last seconds.
“It’s a stunning performance from one of the stars of the cast that I’m very proud of.”
It comes after Davies revealed the upcoming series will prove that the Whoniverse can still deliver powerful and current stories.
Speaking to Empire, he said: “I wanted to show the BBC what this universe is capable of, and the potential that it has and the punch that it can deliver.
BBC
Related: Why Doctor Who’s Disney break-up is actually the show’s greatest chance for reinvention in decades
“It’s very 2025 in its bones. We even deal with the water companies and their profiteering bosses, laughing in our faces. In a series about the water you have to!”
Tovey, who plays UNIT staff member Barclay in the show, added: “I’m really drawn to projects that say something. Obviously, we need escapism and joy, but art has to matter, too. That’s what Russell [T Davies] does.”
The first two episodes of The War Between the Land and the Sea premiere on BBC One at 8.30pm on 7 December.
Take our interdimensional Doctor Who quiz!
Doctor Who airs on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Classic episodes of Doctor Who are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Interested in talking about Doctor Who? Visit our dedicated sub-forum
Read more Doctor Who news on our dedicated homepage
The new edition of Living Legends is here! Buy Ariana & Witches in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.
Freelance Reporter, Digital Spy
Rebecca is a freelance journalist who specializes in TV and film. After beginning her career as a digital entertainment journalist for the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, she embarked on a freelance career in 2021 contributing to the likes of Metro UK, The Sun, WhatCulture, Screen Rant, FilmHounds Magazine and more.
Her particular field of interest is horror cinema and she has written for genre publications such as Ghouls Magazine and Moving Pictures Film Club.
LinkedIn