‘Doctor Who’ Is Coming Back for a Special Movie Event, in Theaters One Night Only
Not the holiday special we expected
The long-running science fiction show “Doctor Who” is in kind of a weird place right now. As we previously reported, all production is currently on hold as the BBC is putting the show out to tender, trying to find a new production company and a new source of funding. That means it’ll be a while before we see an explanation for the show’s massive cliffhanger after Ncuti Gatwa’s regeneration, and we won’t be getting a 2026 Christmas (or New Year’s) Special.
However, that doesn’t mean we’ll be completely without new “Who” content. David Tennant’s first full season as The Doctor aired in 2006, which means this year marks the Ten/Rose season’s 20th anniversary. To celebrate, the BBC is bringing “The Satan Pit,” a combined story spanning two episodes from that season, to theaters for one night only.
Of course, “The Satan Pit” two-parter originally aired in June 2006, so its 20th birthday has already passed. But this special event will happen on November 23, 2026. November 23 is an important day in “Doctor Who” history: the day that the first episode aired back in 1963. So it makes a lot of sense to hold this event on “Doctor Who”‘s 63rd birthday, even if it’s not a milestone year for the show as a whole.
So how can you watch “Doctor Who: The Satan Pit Extended Movie Cut?” What’s different about it? Keep reading, and I’ll answer all your questions and more. Allons-y!
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“The Satan Pit Extended Movie Cut” explained
What were the original “Satan Pit” episodes about, and why would “Doctor Who” bother to bring them back 20 years later?
This special is actually two episodes from David Tennant’s first season as The Doctor: Episode 8, “The Impossible Planet,” and Episode 9, “The Satan Pit.” It was more common in the Classic Who era, but “Doctor Who” does occasionally have stories that span multiple episodes.
In those two episodes, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) and The Doctor land on a planet orbiting a black hole. While everything about their usual situation seems like it could have a scientific explanation, there are more similar things happening under the planet’s surface… Things involving… the devil?
Most fans will probably remember this episode as the first one to feature the Ood. The Ood are an iconic “Doctor Who” alien race with spaghetti-like facial tentacles and a surprisingly calm and reassuring telepathic voice. Unfortunately, humanity has enslaved the Ood, exploiting the aliens for monetary gain. So you don’t have to feel too bad for the humans when spooky things start happening to them.
You can watch the trailer above for more info on the combined episodes, but know that it won’t be exactly like “The Satan Pit” story you remember from 2006. This new screening is a “newly re-edited, movie-length cinematic cut, featuring deleted scenes that were previously only available on DVD” and “never-before-seen extended footage.” That means even if you’ve seen “The Satan Pit” before, you’ve never seen it like this.
We’ve certainly come a long way from the ’60s, when the BBC would destroy film reels as soon as episodes finished airing!
How to watch “The Satan Pit Extended Movie Cut”
“Doctor Who: The Satan Pit Extended Movie Cut” is coming to theaters in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on November 23, 2026. The special is projected to have a runtime of about two hours. From what I can tell, each theater has one showing, and it’s only airing for that one night, so make sure you don’t miss it.
To find showtimes near you, check out the Fathom Event page. My own local theater has already sold out, but you lucky ducks with larger theaters might still have a shot.
Where to watch more “Doctor Who”
AMC+ is currently streaming a large chunk of modern “Doctor Who,” from 2005 to 2022. This is where you’ll find the season that “The Satan Pit” is originally from.
Disney+ has the most recent “Doctor Who” episodes and specials, released from 2023 to 2025. However, Disney has declined to continue making future episodes.
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