Speculations Rise: Doctor Who Fans Anticipate Sea Devils Spinoff
Doctor Who fans speculate a Sea Devils spinoff after a leaked production document sparks excitement Could this mean a UNIT-focused Doctor Who show is in the works?
Fans are abuzz with speculation about a potential Doctor Who spinoff centered on the Sea Devils, prompted by the discovery of a production document. The Sea Devils made their debut in 1972 in a six-part Doctor Who serial, portraying a powerful race of amphibious reptiles that once dominated the Earth in ancient history.
The Sea Devils were first encountered by the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee), but his successors have also had run-ins with them. The most recent encounter occurred in the 2022 Doctor Who Easter special, "Legend of the Sea Devils," featuring Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor.
Doctor Who fans think Sea Devils spinoff is in the works
The Sea Devils are set to make a comeback, as per a rumored production listing making its way around X/Twitter. It seems that a Doctor Who spinoff called “The War Between The Land And The Sea” is in the works and will showcase the iconic Sea Devils.
The spinoff is happening.#dwsrhttps://t.co/lN4BOTLFqz pic.twitter.com/7DJwmgqDxq
— Doctor Who Production News №(𐐈) (@DoctorWhoPN) January 3, 2024
The spinoff news was taken at face value by many fans and their responses varied widely. Some were excited about a new Doctor Who side project, while others expressed disappointment that a Sea Devils-centric story was not what they had hoped for. "Well, [Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies] did talk about an eight-word title in [Doctor Who Magazine] in the last two Christmas issues! It's this!!" one franchise devotee exclaimed.
Another person expressed their disbelief at the decision to create a spinoff centered around two rival races that, let’s face it, hardly anyone is interested in seeing. They suggested that it's just a token nod to existing lore and should be left at that.
There were also requests for The War Between the Land and the Sea to be available on Disney+ in addition to BBC One and BBC iPlayer, unlike the 2023 spinoff Tales of the TARDIS, which was exclusively on the BBC.
However, two industry insiders, writers Fraser Coull and Joseph J. Bennett, raised doubts about the credibility of the production document. "I have reliable information that no spinoffs are filming in March, so I don't believe this is a legitimate spinoff," stated Coull. Bennett also expressed skepticism, saying, "I wouldn't trust it. It's not a production resource that people in the industry use or trust."
Is a UNIT-focused Doctor Who show happening?
The status of The War Between The Land And The Sea remains unknown with no official announcement from the BBC. In contrast, the long-anticipated UNIT spinoff for Doctor Who seems to be all but confirmed as of March 2022.
At this stage, there is limited information about the production, but it has been confirmed that Jemma Redgrave will be returning as Kate Stewart, the boss of the military outfit. Redgrave's last appearance in this role was in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, which aired in November-December 2023.
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Editor's P/S
As a dedicated Doctor Who fan, I am thrilled about the possibility of a Sea Devils spinoff series. The Sea Devils are a classic Doctor Who villain, and it would be exciting to see them get their own show. I think it would be a great opportunity to explore their history and motivations in more depth. Plus, it would be a lot of fun to see the Doctor and her companions battle the Sea Devils again.
However, I am also a bit skeptical about the rumors of a Sea Devils spinoff. There have been a lot of false rumors about Doctor Who spinoffs in the past, so I'm not going to get my hopes up too high. I'll just have to wait and see if the BBC officially announces the spinoff. In the meantime, I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope that we do get to see more of the Sea Devils in the future.
