Disney+ announces new Doctor Who spinoff series coming next year

Get ready for a brand-new Doctor Whospinoff coming to Disney+ next year! Here's what we know about The War Between the Land and the Sea!

As a franchise that's existed since 1962, it's no surprise that Doctor Who has inspired a few spinoffs over the years. Interestingly, it wasn't during the original 1963-87 run but when the show was revived in 2005.

First came Torchwood, a gripping sci-fi tale of a secret group hunting aliens and other threats with John Barrowman reprising his role as the immortal Jack Harkness. Hailed for its edgy style and shocking twists (including key characters killed off), it concluded with a Starz mini-series Children of the Earth. 

The Sarah Jane Adventures had Elisabeth Sladen reprising her role as popular Companion Sarah Jane Smith, helping some kids fight off alien threats on Earth. It had a good run that sadly ended when Sladen passed away from cancer in 2011. 

Class aired in 2015 as a pack of college students are selected by the Doctor (then played by Peter Capaldi) to watch out for mysterious exploits on Earth. However, the show was deemed a disappointment by critics and fans and canceled after one season.

Now, Disney+ is going ahead as at the San Diego Comic Con, it was announced that The War Between the Land and the Sea, created by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies, will air on Disney+ next year. It looks to be a fun mini-series for fans.

What is The War Between the Land and the Sea about?

The five-part series will bring back the classic Who villains, the Sea Devils, a watery alien race who tangled with the Third Doctor back in 1972. They made a return in a 2022 special to tangle with the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whitaker). 

Now, the Sea Devils are back and in much greater numbers, preparing a full-on invasion of the surface world. UNIT, the international group protecting Earth from alien threats, finds itself caught in this war that may lead to a much greater evil. 

"The series picks up as 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."

It looks like a good expansion of Doctor Who storylines with UNIT taking center stage. 

Who stars in The War Between the Land and the Sea?

Returning for this series is Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, the head of UNIT. The daughter of UNIT's original leader Brigadier General Alister Lethbridge-Stewart (played by the late Nicholas Courtney), Kate has been a regular face on the show and become a popular fan favorite character. Also returning will be Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim, Kate's right-hand man. 

Joining the cast is Russell Tovey (Feud) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki). Mbatha-Raw is known to Doctor Who fans playing Tish, the sister of Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman). It's unsure yet if she'll be reprising the role of Tish or a new character. Likewise, Tovey had a brief role on Who as Alsono back in 2009.

Davies talked at the event on the challenge these characters have trying to save Earth without the Doctor's aid.

"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. "

What else is coming to Doctor Who?

The panel also shared hints at what was coming for fans of the show. That included a video from Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan who shared she'd be guest-starring in the upcoming Christmas special and showed a clip to the crowd.

The new season will have Gibson on board before introducing new Companion Varada Sethu. 

So between this new spinoff and a special, it looks like Doctor Who is making the most of its new home on Disney+ to expand this iconic franchise.

Doctor Who Season 14 streaming on Disney+.