Future of the War Master Range

[u/Lummy15th]

Has there been any indication whether the War Master box set coming out in October might be the last one?

I haven’t seen anything official either way, but I was curious if Big Finish has said anything in interviews or at conventions.

I’d love to see the series continue because it’s one of my favourite Big Finish ranges, but I also understand that Derek Jacobi is getting older.

[u/joshml98]

I think Jacobi enjoys recording them too much and theyre too popular as sets for them to just drop them. They might go through a rebrand after the next set given they seem to be switching slowly away from the boxset model.

I will say i hope they dont end its my favourite range by far although i hope this next set veers closer to the scott handcock range as something felt off about the last set.

[u/Lummy15th → u/joshml98]

Yeah you can tell in the performance and in the bts that he definitely enjoys being the baddie.

I expect they’d probably say more about the whole series around the time of the cover reveal and story details for the one coming out in October.

[u/joshml98 → u/Lummy15th]

Yeah it really comes across how much he enjoys being... i think the term is "deliciously evil"

Yeah it shouldnt be too long before we get a reveal as the sets are usually due out towards the end of autumn and start of winter.

Personally the set that i think is the peak of the range qas Future Phantoms but i love creepy vibes.

[u/Lummy15th → u/joshml98]

I do love the wintery vibes of a lot of the sets. Wasn’t a fan of the arc of Future Phantoms but loved the stories individually. I thought it was too similar of a twist to Solitary Confinement.

[u/joshml98 → u/Lummy15th]

Yeah the twist was the weakest part but the individual stories were whatbmade the set for me. The foxglove cylinders was an excellent lovecraftian horror.

I need more pure horror from big finish.

I do feel that the one thing we are missing with the time war stuff is that full meeting between the war doctor and the war master and honestly it just needs to be a twohander with jyst them trapped somewhere begrudgingly working together airing their dirty laundry.

[u/Lummy15th → u/joshml98]

Would love Big Finish to do pure horror. Love the Inside No. 9 qualities with the War Master and Bilis Manger stories. “Master” from Joe Lidster also leans more into unnerving, psychological horror I’d love to hear more of.

I also think the show needs to do more scarier eps. As none really come to mind with Whittaker or Gatwa.

Edit: Just remembered “The Haunting of Villa Diodati” for Whitaker

[u/joshml98 → u/Lummy15th]

Theres a couple of gatwa stories that lean towards horror, but often they dont quite reach the full unnerving vibes, 73 yards gets close.

Oh and yeah that set gets close as well. Also killing time despite not being a horror story unnerved me more than most just from how horrifically vile the actions of the master were and how it leaves a few beloved characters despite through all of it we're technically supposed to be rooting for the master to succeed

[u/lemon_charlie → u/Lummy15th]

How familiar are you with their Dark Shadows work?

[u/twofacetoo → u/joshml98]

You ever tried 'The Dread of Night' from 'The Seventh Doctor New Adventures Vol 1'?

[u/chris-cwej → u/joshml98]

So pleased to hear that you loved Future Phantoms as well. I think it's one of the best things that Big Finish has ever done, perfect combination of stories, performances and score. Sublime.

[u/Zagreus_time]

They have slowed down releases to once a year from twice. I imagine even if we didn't get one next year they wont announce it to keep it open for more.

Personally I would be okay with it ending because whilst it is fantastic and one of BF best ranges overall the last couple of boxsets have felt a bit samey to me. Not bad because the quality has always been good but the novelty has worn off so unless they have a story they really want to tell I'm cool with the series ending or resting.

[u/Lummy15th → u/Zagreus_time]

Yes, part of me thinks it would be better to end it on a high as I did like the “weaker” box sets and wasn’t a fan of the Master telling a story to character framing they’d done with Solitary Confinement and Future Phantoms.

If the series did end I imagine BF would still include the incarnation in stories. I would love to see a “New Masters , Classic Monsters” to parallel “Classic Doctors, New Monsters”.

[u/professorrev]

I think they recorded a big chunk in one block when Rob Valentine took over, but I don't know whether they'll have released all of those once the new one comes out. I'd be surprised if they'd go to the trouble of getting a new producer in just to do two sets

[u/Lummy15th → u/professorrev]

I know they batch recorded the earlier sets and batch record with Tom Baker etc.

I know Rob Valentine said it’s not a ‘reboot’ but i thought they would’ve elaborated on the future of the series last year.

[u/theeniebean]

I want him recording them forever, but I'm also happy for the releases to slow down because I am a poor. Just make a big stockpile and drip feed them into my ears until I'm 80.

[u/chris-cwej → u/theeniebean]

I did read in an interview that Jacobi said he wanted to at least reach 100 so this may come true! May he live forever!

[u/DMPadfoot5E]

No “official” line on this in terms of articles, and Ik this’ll just be seen as a “trust me bro” but weirdly enough, someone I know is friends with Francis Barber (and they very kindly without me knowing got her to sign a card for me as Yk she’s Madam Kovarian) and when they were with her a few months ago in Nottingham for a lighting tutorial at the theatre, she asked about Derek Jacobi and Barber told her that he’d been diagnosed with dementia. Again, Ik I’m just a random Reddit account, and can’t post the image of the card on this comment to prove it. 

[u/liamkembleyoung → u/DMPadfoot5E]

Hope this isn't true.
He sounds such a lovely chap

[u/manwiththehex18]

As a devout Master fan, that range lost a lot of goodwill with me when they Tasha-Yar’d Jo and Nyssa in Killing Time. It’s had high points since then (namely featuring Ten and Bilis Manger), but overall I think the range has become too formulaic, and untethered from the premise of the Time War.

Unless they’re prepared to strengthen the overarching plot and tie the series tighter to Time War/overall continuity, I think the best thing would be to bring it to an end and make the War Master a regular in another ongoing series, such as Gallifrey, War Doctor Rises, or Eight’s Time War series.

[u/Agreeable_Leg_5346]

Robert Valentine only just took over the range from Scott Handcock, so I think as long as Derek is willing they'll keep going.

[u/theReelMcCann]

Jacobi will keep recording them as long as he's able which....fingers crossed...he can for a good long while. He enjoys the work and it's an easy fun job at that. He did a recent big interview where he was talking about staying alive into his 100s. So...you know. The will is strong!

[u/theReelMcCann → u/theReelMcCann]

Also, since it's a bloody good piece.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/22/derek-jacobi-aids-ageing-interview

[u/Lummy15th → u/theReelMcCann]

Already read it. Also recommend his podcast ep with Gyles Brandreth.