HBO and Sky will introduce a new legal drama this fall with WAR, an eight episode series created by George Kay, whose previous credits include Lupin and Hijack. Dominic West and Sienna Miller lead the cast as a high profile divorce sends two powerful London law firms into direct conflict. The first episode premieres October 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, with HBO Max streaming the series in the United States.
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Season one focuses on British tech entrepreneur Morgan Henderson, played by West, and international film star Carla Duval, played by Miller. Their divorce develops into a major legal battle between Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne, with each firm pursuing a victory for its client. The case also draws ambitious young lawyer Jonathan “Johnny” Warren, played by Archie Renaux, into an environment shaped by competition, betrayal and professional ambition.
Phoebe Fox plays Serena Byrne and James McArdle plays Nicholas Taylor, partners in life and business at Taylor & Byrne. Their principal rivals at Cathcarts & Sons include Beatrice “Queen Bea” Ubosi, played by Nina Sosanya, and St John Smallwood, played by Pip Torrens. The wider cast includes Celia Imrie, Nick Mohammed, Emma Laird, Aran Murphy, Archie Panjabi, Adrian Scarborough, Shaheen Jafargholi, Akiya Henry, Honor Swinton Byrne, Miles Jupp, Kartanya Maynard, Alexandra Mardell, Dylan Edwards, Mark Quartley and Steve Furst.
George Kay created and wrote WAR and also serves as an executive producer. New Pictures and Observatory Pictures produce the series in association with Sky and HBO. Willow Grylls and Matt Sandford executive produce for New Pictures, alongside Susan Breen, Ben Taylor, Andrea Dewsbury and Megan Spanjian for Sky. Ben Taylor serves as lead director, while Laurie Borg produces the series.
The October premiere will begin a weekly schedule, with new episodes arriving on Thursdays throughout the eight episode first season. HBO Max will stream WAR in the United States, Australia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, France and Belgium. Sky and NOW will carry the series in the UK, Ireland and Italy, while Sky and WOW will offer it in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution handles international sales.
HBO and Sky have already ordered two seasons, giving the drama another major legal case beyond the Henderson and Duval divorce. Production on season two continues, with Marisa Tomei, Kelly Macdonald and David Harewood set to star in the next case. That season will focus on a defamation dispute that draws their lawyers into another high profile legal conflict.
The first season, however, begins with Henderson and Duval and the rivalry between Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne. With West and Miller playing the couple behind the case and Renaux entering the conflict as Johnny Warren, WAR uses one divorce to examine the lawyers, firms and professional rivalries surrounding a major public dispute.
