Returning showrunner Russell T Davies has already teased his Doctor Who spin-off plans, with the franchise expected to expand significantly now Disney+ is working alongside the BBC.
The streamer's financial contributions are expected to give the long-running sci-fi series a much-needed big-budget feel, an essential move if it hopes to compete with what the likes of Netflix, HBO and, well, Disney+, are producing. Now, as the "Whoniverse" expands, the first of those planned spin-offs have been revealed.
According to Deadline, the first will revolve around military research organization U.N.I.T. with Jemma Redgrave set to reprise the role of Kate Stewart.
She's played the character in 10 episodes of Doctor Who since 2012, and this spin-off will focus on her running U.N.I.T. (a group that's appeared frequently throughout the show's 50-year history). We don't have much to share beyond that but know Redgrave will be part of this year's episodes, including the Christmas Special that introduces Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor.
During a recent interview with BBC Radio 2, Russell said that the fourth episode of next year's fifteen season is "one of the greatest things I’ve ever made in my life," further increasing excitement for his latest run in charge of the franchise.
Davies previously launched a successful Doctor Who spin-off with Torchwood, so we have faith in him doing the same again here. There's no word on when production is going to begin on this project, but we'd anticipate it not being released until well into 2024, if not 2025 (and presumably on Disney+ outside of the UK).
Later this year, David Tennant will return as the Doctor for a handful of Specials alongside Catherine Tate. He'll then pass the baton to Gatwa and his Doctor's new companion, Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson.
Are you excited to see the "Whoniverse" expand in the next few years?