Soldiers take over Cardiff attraction as landmark shuts for filming

Soldiers took over a popular Cardiff attraction as the landmark was shut down for filming a new production. The National Museum Cardiff, located in the city’s civic centre, was transformed by actors dressed as soldiers on Wednesday afternoon. The filming is believed to be for the upcoming Doctor Who spin-off series called “The War Between the Land and the Sea,” which is currently in production.

The new series, set in the Whoniverse and written by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, features stars like Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in leading roles. However, the release date for the series has not been announced yet. The plot revolves around an international crisis triggered by the emergence of a fearsome ancient species from the ocean, leading to a war between the land and sea. UNIT, a military organisation familiar to recent Doctor Who viewers, steps in to protect humanity.

Actors were seen outside the closed National Museum Cardiff, with signs indicating the closure for filming on October 15. Speculations suggest that the museum may be standing in for a government building in the series. The spin-off was initially announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024.

The series will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and exclusively on Disney+ in other regions. Returning Doctor Who cast members such as Jemma Redgrave and Alexander Devrient will join the cast alongside new faces. The five episodes will be directed by Dylan Holmes-Williams, who previously worked on Doctor Who episodes.

Producer Russell T Davies has described the series as a thrilling and groundbreaking drama that will impact the Whoniverse profoundly. Filming is expected to wrap up just before Christmas, with fans eagerly anticipating the release of this new addition to the Doctor Who universe.