Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw Lead Cast of Five-Part Series for Disney+ and BBC, alongside ‘Doctor Who’ Alums Jemma Redgrave and Alexander Devrient
SAN DIEGO – (July 26, 2024) – Disney Branded Television and BBC jointly announced “The War Between The Land And The Sea,” an all-new “Doctor Who” spinoff, today at San Diego Comic-Con. Leading the five-part series is Russell Tovey (“Feud,” “American Horror Story: NYC”) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“Surface,” “Loki”), alongside returning “Doctor Who” cast members Jemma Redgrave (as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart) and Alexander Devrient (as Colonel Ibrahim).
L-R: Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jemma Redgrave, Alexander Devrient
Photo Credit DISNEY+
When a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity, an international crisis is triggered. With the entire population at risk, UNIT steps into action as the land and sea wage war. Created by “Doctor Who” showrunner and executive producer Russell T Davies, who wrote the spinoff with executive producer Pete McTighe (“A Discovery of Witches,” “The Pact,” “Doctor Who”), the series features the triumphant return of the Sea Devils, classic “Doctor Who” villains first seen in 1972.
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.“
Filming begins next month and will be directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, director of two “Doctor Who” season one episodes: “73 Yards” and “Dot and Bubble.” The series will air exclusively on Disney+ where available and BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the U.K.
“The War Between The Land And The Sea” is produced by Bad Wolf, with BBC Studios for Disney Branded Television and BBC. In addition to Davies and McTighe, executive producers include Phil Collinson, Joel Collins, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter.
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BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with sales of £2.1 billion (2021/22: £1,630 million). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the global Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Channels & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. Around 2,500 hours of award-winning British programmes are made by the business every year, with over 80% of total BBC Studios revenues coming from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com is BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, offering up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features.
