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 (L-R): Jason Dimmock, Michael Wharley, Charlie Carter, Marina Castells
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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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Disney Branded Television encompasses the creative storytellers and production and content marketing teams responsible for Disney-branded television series, movies and other programming spanning live-action, animated and unscripted formats. The group fuels the Disney+ streaming platform and Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior linear networks with content geared toward kids, tweens, teens and families, with stories that are imaginative, aspirational and reflective of their world and experiences.
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The BBC is the world’s leading public service broadcaster which is impartial and independent, and every day we create distinctive, world-class programmes and content which inform, educate and entertain millions of people in the UK and around the world. The BBC includes a portfolio of television services, national and local radio networks, and global digital services.
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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.
ABOUT BAD WOLF
Since launching in 2015, Bad Wolf has produced a slate of award-winning high-end dramas including The Night Of for HBO; His Dark Materials for BBC / HBO; A Discovery of Witches for Sky / AMC; I Hate Suzie for Sky / HBO Max and The Winter King for ITVX / MGM+. In 2023 Bad Wolf produced the 60th Anniversary and Christmas specials of Doctor Who with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television. Thus far 2024 has seen the successful launch of Season One of Doctor Who on BBC One / Disney+ and international thriller Red Eye on ITV and ITVX. A third season of HBO’s industry is scheduled for release later this summer and the BBC six-part series Dope Girls has recently completed filming.
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