Will there be The War Between the Land and the Sea season 2?
The Doctor Who spin-off has now come to a climactic end.
*Warning - contains spoilers for episodes 1-4 of The War Between the Land and the Sea*
Doctor Who fans might not be getting a Christmas special this year, but the gap has been filled by thrilling new spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea.
After just three weeks due to episodes being double-banked, the full season has now come to an end, with all five episodes, charting the journey of Barclay, Salt and the UNIT team, available to watch now.
But will this spin-off series continue on for another season? While some previous shows such as Class only ran for one set of episodes, others such as Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures have spanned multiple years. So what's the status of this latest addition to the Whoniverse going forward?
Read on for everything you need to know about the potential for The War Between the Land and the Sea season 2.
Will there be The War Between the Land and the Sea season 2?
Unlike previous spin-offs such as Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, The War Between the Land and the Sea is a story-led series, rather than being centred around characters getting involved in different adventures.
This means that we're less likely to see a second season of the show, as it centres around a particular incident - the reemergence of Homo Aqua, otherwise known as the Sea Devils.
It's also notable that the show was commissioned and produced as part of the BBC's co-production/distribution deal with Disney, which has now come to an end. Whether the BBC now goes it alone to fund the series, or looks for a new partner, it could be that The War Between the Land and the Sea remains a part of the Disney era only.
Co-showrunner Russell T Davies also addressed the question of whether The War Between the Land and the Sea is strictly a standalone series when speaking exclusively with RadioTimes.com.
He said: "It's a complete story – it absolutely ends... and I will say, stay tuned for the very end, keep watching."
This final scene could hint towards some form of continuation for the series, or simply something that caps it off.
Davies was quick to clarify: "That doesn't mean... that sounds like the Doctor appears – that's not what happens! But within the story, the credits start to roll... keep watching! It's got one of the most powerful endings with the most amazing performance of one of this cast you'll ever see."
Of course, if Davies and McTighe did want to continue the series in some form, there are options. For instance, season 2 could focus on a new story for Homo Aqua, or the show could take on an anthology format, following new scenarios involving the UNIT team when the Doctor is not around.
We will make sure to update this page if we get any further news regarding the future of The War Between the Land and the Sea, but for now we are expecting this will be one-and-done.
When would a potential The War Between the Land and the Sea season 2 be released?
If The War Between The Land And The Sea were to return in some format, it certainly wouldn't be for some time. That's because the next episode of Doctor Who isn't set to air until Christmas 2026.
We would then imagine that the next priority for Russell T Davies and the team behind the show would be a new season of the original show, likely to release in 2027.
We therefore feel that spin-offs may be put in the back burner for now - perhaps until 2028 at the earliest.
Who would return to star in a potential The War Between the Land and the Sea season 2?
If The War Between the Land and the Sea were to return in some form, it seems most likely that it would be an anthology format, following a new story featuring the UNIT team.
We could therefore see the likes of Russell Tovey, Jemma Redgrave and Ruth Madeley return - depending on how their characters fare in the finale.
Two star who likely wouldn't be back would be Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce, after their characters met a tragic end in episode 3.
Want to see this content?
We're not able to show you this content from Google reCAPTCHA. Please sign out of Contentpass to view this content.
Of course, this is all speculation, but for now, these are the cast members we could potentially see returning for a future season of The War Between the Land and the Sea, in whatever form it could take.
- Russell Tovey as Barclay Pierre-Dupont
- Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart
- Ruth Madeley as Shirley Ann Bingham
- Francesca Corney as Segreant Hana Chakri
- Vincent Franklin as Prime Minister Harry Shaw
The War Between the Land and the Sea is available to watch in full now on BBC iPlayer.
Add The War Between the Land and the Sea to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
