For decades, attempting to watch Doctor Who in the U.S. was an incredibly difficult endeavor. Whether it was relying on PBS reruns, trying to catch up on BBC America, or searching through the archives, the process was never straightforward. However, 2023 appeared to signal the end of these complications when the BBC partnered with Disney. This agreement ensured that new episodes would stream for American audiences simultaneously with their UK broadcast.
Three years later, that partnership has concluded. Consequently, The War Between the Land and the Sea, a spinoff miniseries announced in 2024, has become an unintended victim of this split. Although it has already aired in the UK, there is currently no indication regarding when—or if—it will be released in the US. Here is a comprehensive guide to what we know.
What is The War Between the Land and the Sea?
The War Between the Land and the Sea is a five-part miniseries centered on UNIT, the Earth-based military organization responsible for handling extraterrestrial threats. The plot follows their struggle against the resurgence of the Sea Devils, now referred to as Homo Aqua. Disillusioned by humanity’s treatment of the planet, the Homo Aqua threaten to ignite a global conflict.
The series was announced previously and is frequently likened to the earlier Doctor Who spinoff, Torchwood. Unlike Torchwood, however, The War Between the Land and the Sea has been explicitly described as a miniseries, meaning there are no plans for a second season.
Who is in the cast for The War Between the Land and the Sea?
The cast of The War Between the Land and the Sea features several actors from Doctor Who, particularly those portraying UNIT staff who have appeared in recent seasons, alongside some new additions. The series stars:
- Russell Tovey as Barclay Pierre-Dupont
- Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt
- Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart
- Alexander Devrient as Christofer Ibrahim
- Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham
- Colin McFarlane as Austin Pierce
- Ann Akinjirin as Barbara Pierre-Dupont
Notably, the series’ leads, Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, have both previously appeared in Doctor Who during the Tenth Doctor’s tenure, albeit as different characters. Mbatha-Raw portrayed Tish Jones, the sister of companion Martha Jones, in Season 2 of the 2005 revival, while Tovey played Alonso Frame, a midshipman on the starship Titanic in the episode “Voyage of the Damned.”
What is The War Between the Land and the Sea Release Date?
In the U.K., The War Between the Land and the Sea broadcast in December 2025. Conversely, the U.S. release on Disney+ remains vague, listed simply as “2026.” The specific timing is unclear, apparently resting with the decision-makers at Disney+. Co-writer Pete McTighe offered an update on the timeline during a recent interview. “I hear that it’s happening soon,” he remarked. “I don’t know — I don’t have inside info, but all I’ve been told is that it’s happening soon.”
For those impatient for more content, the earlier UK release included a making-of documentary. McTighe, for his part, encourages viewers not to wait for the U.S. launch. “Guys, just VPN it! Or buy the Blu-ray. The Blu-ray’s got lots of cool extra stuff in it. The Blu-ray has got deleted scenes in it. It’s got the documentary — the making of, which is really, really great,” he suggested. “I’m hoping there’s a longer cut of that coming out sometime because there was so much footage. We were shooting footage the whole time. It was great.”