'Doctor Who' Spinoff Rounds Out Cast as Davies Gives Filming Update

Production on the first official Doctor Who spinoff since the ill-fated (and very forgettable) Class attempted to create a Doctorless Doctor Who in the mid-2010s kicked off at the end of August 2024 with a splashy A-list roster. The five-episode limited series (which should not be confused with the other Doctor Who spinoff in the works, an ongoing series set at UNIT featuring a roster of former companions). Principal photography is underway and going swimmingly, with series creator and Doctor Who Reboot specialist Russell T. Davies giving an update on when things are scheduled to conclude. Unsurprisingly, though the show is only five installments, the sheer amount of technical details (not to mention an entire race of Silrulians, this time redesigned to take advantage of the Disney-sized budgets) will keep things going until the end of the year.

This month's edition of Doctor Who Magazine has an article from Davies, which revealed: "In the office, this show is generally shortened to TWB, which makes me think it stands for Torchwood: Birmingham. We’re in the third week of filming. Very exciting! The shoot will go on until just before Christmas, and it’s a mammoth task." Also revealed: more cast, three names that the more hardcore among us will know, but not nearly as high profile as the previously announced Russell Tovey (Feud: Capote vs the Swans) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Surface).

Torchwood: Birmingham sounds a bit like a Doctor Who-Line of Duty cross-over, where Adrian Dunbar has to reconcile his Catholic faith with the existence of two-hearted aliens who help him uncover the next bad apple corrupting an entire department under AC-12's preview. (Listen, I would 100% watch a Line of Duty Season 7 where UNIT finds itself in the middle of a far better remake of Marvel's Secret Invasion.) But for now, we must make do with The War Between the Land & the Sea casting Patrick Baladi, who played LoD's Jimmy Lakewell in a recurring capacity until he was offed in Season 6.

Vincent Franklin (Gentleman Jack) and Adrian Lukis (Downton Abbey) were the other cast members revealed this week. Whether they play humans or Silrulians (or are Silrulians playing humans playing Silrulians) remains to be seen. A couple of relative newcomers were also announced: Francesca Corney (The Buccaneers) and Mei Mac (Call the Midwife). But perhaps most importantly, Davies hinted at a Very Special Cameo or two that will kick off the limited series as he discussed how differently this series was being filmed from a regular Doctor Who season:

"Normally, five episodes would be broken down into two or three blocks, filmed roughly in order. But this is all one big block, so an actor could appear for the first time in the very last scene of the very last episode (and indeed, someone does), but we could need them to shoot tomorrow. Equally, someone could be needed in (Episode) 1, (Scene) 1, but maybe we won’t shoot that until December. Logistics galore!"

Someone appearing in the very first and last scene, perhaps accompanied by a companion in that last one? Hmmm, could it be.... The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa)?

Here's the five-episode series' synopsis:

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 step into action as the land and sea wage war.

The War Between the Land & the Sea will star previously seen Whoniverse characters Jemma Redgrave (Silent Witness) as Commander Kate Lethbridge Stewart, Ruth Madeley (The Long Shadow) as scientific advisor Shirley Anne Bingham, Alexander Devrient (Ted Lasso) as Colonel Christofer Ibrahim, and Colin MacFarlane (The Larkins) as General Austin Pierce. Tovey and Mbatha-Raw's roles are being kept under wraps; both have previously appeared in Doctor Who; however, neither will reprise their previous characters (Midshipman Frame and Martha’s sister Tish Jones).

Davies wrote all five episodes with Pete McTighe (A Discovery of Witches). Director Dylan Holmes Williams (Servant) will helm all installments. Davies and McTighe are also executive producers for Bad Wolf, alongside Joel Collins, Phil Collinson, Julie Gardner, and Jane Tranter. 

The War Between the Land and the Sea is expected to premiere on BBC One and Disney+ in 2025. Doctor Who Season 2(15/41) is also expected out in 2025, with Season 3(16/42) slated to begin filming soon.