Returning Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies first teased his ambitious spin-off plans earlier this year, with the idea being for the franchise to expand significantly now that 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. With the "Whoniverse" set to be bigger and better than ever before, the first of those planned spin-offs will reportedly revolve around the military research organization U.N.I.T.
It was back in March when the trades ran a story claiming Jemma Redgrave has been tapped to reprise the role of Kate Stewart in this project, Doctor Who's 60th-anniversary specials, and season 14 alongside Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor.
Redgrave has played the character in 10 episodes of Doctor Who since 2012, and this spin-off will is said to focus primarily on her running U.N.I.T. (a group that's appeared frequently throughout the show's 50-year history). We'd assume some new characters will also be added to the mix, though.
The actress, however, has denied any knowledge of starring in her own TV series.
"I don’t know anything about a spin-off," Redgrave said during an appearance on UK chat show Good Morning Britain (via SFFGazette.com). "Somebody in my book club did message me and say, ‘I saw something about you having a series,’ and I said, ‘I’ve heard nothing about it and I shall call my agent.’"
She did, however, confirm her planned return in season 14. "I have been asked, and I have been back in one episode in Series 14, and it was such a wonderful thing to be part of that family. I’ve never taken it for granted that I will be brought back, but it was absolutely tremendous and to be part of Russell T. Davies’ new vision is so exciting."
"I haven’t yet got to work with Ncuti [Gatwa], I worked with Millie [Gibson]," Redgrave concluded, offering at least an idea of what we can expect from Stewart and U.N.I.T.'s long-awaited comeback.
Davies previously launched a successful Doctor Who spin-off with Torchwood, so we have faith in him being able to do the same again here...assuming it really is happening. There hasn't been any 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.
As noted, David Tennant will return as the Doctor for three anniversary 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" get bigger in the years ahead? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.