Doctor Who spin-off is coming: Here’s everything we know about The War Between the Land and the Sea so far

Time has never been a straight line in Doctor Who. And right now, it’s messier than ever. The last season just wrapped, leaving fans reeling from the change of Doctor, the shocking moment when Billie Piper appeared during the regeneration, and the uneasy question: will she actually stay as the Sixteenth Doctor, or is it just some Bad Wolf shenanigan waiting to unravel?

The future feels like it’s dangling by a string, twisting and curling into paradoxes we can’t yet see. But even as the main show pauses to catch its breath, the Whoniverse refuses to stand still.

Enter The War Between the Land and the Sea, a spin-off that promises to stir the timelines even more, dragging us into a battle as old as the waves and as vast as the stars. It’s a reminder that in this universe, no ending is ever final, and no future is ever truly written.

What is The War Between the Land and the Sea?

The War Between the Land and the Sea, created by Russell T Davies and Pete McTighe, arrives at a moment when the Whoniverse feels like it’s holding its breath.

Set to unfold across five episodes, it will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and stream on Disney+ internationally, pulling viewers into a global crisis where the tides are rising, the Sea Devils are back, and nothing is as simple as it seems. This is no mere side quest. It’s a war that could shake the very foundations of the world the Doctor left behind, or maybe the one they’ll return to.

What is the story about?

The Sea Devils are returning, and they come with a mission that pushes humanity toward a global crisis. UNIT faces a challenge that spans far beyond military strategy or political negotiations. At stake is the balance between land and sea, a clash shaped by old grudges and new dangers.

The spin-off promises to dive into themes of environmental tension, moral uncertainty, and the unpredictable currents that have always given Doctor Who its narrative power.

Who’s in the cast?

The cast brings together familiar faces and striking new energy. Russell Tovey steps in as Barclay, a figure caught between duty and doubt, while Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Salt promises to add both charisma and sharp edge to the unfolding crisis. Jemma Redgrave returns as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, the steady hand guiding UNIT through the storm, alongside Alexander Devrient’s Colonel Ibrahim, whose resolve will be tested as the tides rise.

Ruth Madeley reprises her role as Shirley Ann Bingham, adding heart and determination, while Colin McFarlane’s General Austin Pierce, first seen in Torchwood, resurfaces to remind everyone just how high the stakes have become.

Who’s behind the camera?

Creative forces guiding The War Between the Land and the Sea know just how to stir the depths of the Whouniverse. Showrunner Russell T Davies, who rebuilt modern Doctor Who, teams with Pete McTighe to create a narrative with emotional weight and spectacle.

Taking on directorial responsibilities, Dylan Holmes Williams has a visual approach that can catch the intimate moments of character-driven drama as well as the broad scope of world conflict.

Composer Lorne Balfe is scheduled to weave tension and beauty into every scene, reflecting the pulse of the rising seas. Executive producers Phil Collinson, Joel Collins, Julie Gardner, and Jane Tranter are also on board to help support this spin-off from a team that understands how to strike the old and the new, the epic and the personal.

When does this new Doctor Who spin-off premiere?

Although the precise release date is currently unknown, The War Between the Land and the Sea is expected to show up anywhere in 2025. Every teaser and behind-the-scenes look fuels conjecture about where this story fits into the larger Doctor Who chronology, therefore generating buzz throughout the fan base.

Fans are watching closely, knowing this is not just a side project to fill space between seasons. It is a chapter meant to stand on its own, reshaping the universe in ways we cannot yet predict.

What can we expect based on the trailer?

The first trailer for The War Between the Land and the Sea does more than tease action. It hints at a world on the brink, with crashing waves, dark skies, and a tension that cuts across every frame.

We glimpse the Sea Devils rising in force, UNIT scrambling to respond, and characters facing moral choices under pressure. The tone is sharp, atmospheric, and heavy with stakes, promising a series that leans into both global spectacle and intimate human drama.

This is not a story about easy victories or familiar resolutions. If the trailer is anything to go by, the spin-off will challenge what we think we know about loyalty, survival, and the delicate balance between land and sea.

Why The War Between the Land and the Sea matters

This is a moment crackling with tension. The Doctor’s future stands on the edge, the main timeline feels stretched thin, and the universe itself seems ready to break open.

The War Between the Land and the Sea is not just a side note. It is part of the crevice forming under the weight of choices, timelines, and returning forces. Whether Billie Piper’s Doctor truly steps forward or the Bad Wolf rises again, one thing is certain: the tides are shifting, and Doctor Who is once again ready to break its own rules.