The hit sci-fi series Doctor Who has been around for over six decades. During its run, there have been fifteen main incarnations with 14 actors playing the character in the flagship series.
Doctor Who will receive a brand-new spinoff soon titled The War Between the Land and Sea. Set to premiere on Dec. 7, the spinoff comes after several controversies with the flagship series, and its uncertain future. Speaking to Radio Times, Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies explained how the Doctor’s absence will impact the upcoming spinoff The War Between the Land and the Sea.
Teasing the upcoming spinoff, Davies shared, Teasing what’s to come, Davies explained: “One of the most interesting things you can do with Doctor Who is to take the Doctor out. This is a world without the Doctor, and we’re seeing how we cope as the human race. There are monsters, there’s romance, there are chases, there’s gunfights.”
He explained that the upcoming new series is a “little bit tougher than Doctor Who, it takes on tougher themes, and people have tougher reactions in it, again, because there’s no Doctor.”
“Normally, the Doctor has a magic blue doorway they can take everybody safely through, that safety net has gone,” Davies continued. “You very much find these characters up against the wall and pushed to the limit.”
What Happens in The War Between the Land and the Sea?
Image via BBC
The upcoming spinoff The War Between the Land and the Sea brings back Russell Tovey, who previously played Alonso in Doctor Who. This time, he gets a leading role alongside Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who is also familiar with the franchise. Mbatha-Raw had a supporting role in the sci-fi series at the beginning of her career.
Although the upcoming spinoff is billed as a five-episode miniseries, the creator explained, “It’s a complete story – it absolutely ends… and I will say, stay tuned for the very end, keep watching. That doesn’t mean… that sounds like the Doctor appears – that’s not what happens! But within the story, the credits start to roll… keep watching!”
The creator added, “It’s one of the most powerful endings within the most amazing performance from one of this cast you’ll ever see.”
The War Between the Land and the Seas will premiere on the BBC’s iPlayer and Disney+ on Dec. 7.
Network
BBC One
Showrunner
Russell T. Davies
Directors
Dylan Holmes Williams
Writers
Russell T Davies
Franchise(s)
Doctor Who / Whoniverse
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Uncredited
Russell Tovey
Kate Lethbridge Stewart
Jemma Redgrave
Colonel Christofer Ibrahim