Sky and HBO have launched War, an eight-part legal drama created by George Kay that chronicles the acrimonious divorce between international film star Carla Duval and tech billionaire Morgan Henderson. The series stars Sienna Miller and Dominic West, examining both the crumbling marriage and the cutthroat London law firms hired to dismantle it.
Who stars in the legal drama War?
Sienna Miller leads the cast as film star Carla Duval, while Dominic West plays her estranged husband, tech mogul Morgan Henderson, according to mashable.com. The series features an ensemble cast that the-independent.com compares to Succession for its corporate espionage, high-stakes billions, and glass boardrooms. Additional cast members include Celia Imrie, Nick Mohammed, Emma Laird, and Nina Sosanya.
Dominic West described his character to Country and Town House as a benign billionaire, noting that he researched the role by listening to the podcast Good Bad Billionaire. Sienna Miller told the same outlet that she and West relied on their 20-year history of knowing each other to establish their characters’ prior romance, having previously acted in a play together two decades ago.
How do Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne clash?
Morgan hires the legacy London firm Cathcarts & Sons, which features wood-paneled offices and three-piece suits, as reported by mashable.com and Country and Town House. The firm is led by partners St. John Smallwood, played by Pip Torrens, and Beatrice Ubosi, played by Nina Sosanya. Torrens’ character wields a caustic wit, while Sosanya’s character is known by the nicknames “Queen Bea” and “Her Majesty.”
Carla counters by hiring Taylor & Byrne, a newly established firm founded by married couple Nicholas Taylor and Serena Byrne, played by James McArdle and Phoebe Fox. Unlike Cathcarts’ traditional office, Taylor & Byrne operates out of sleek, glassy spaces, carrying the financial pressure of either making their reputation on the case or going under. Serena Byrne also holds a professional grudge against her former colleague, Beatrice Ubosi.
What twist disrupts the first episode of War?
The first episode introduces junior lawyer Johnny Warren, played by Archie Renaux. However, the episode’s conclusion reveals that Warren is operating as a mole, secretly playing both sides. Mashable.com notes that the dramatic ending of the premiere episode drew inspiration from Olivia Wilde’s real-life custody serving.
tvguide.com reports that the acrimonious split begins immediately when Carla helps honeytrap Morgan into cheating. In response, Cathcarts encourages Morgan to serve Carla with divorce papers directly at a public film premiere.
Where can viewers watch War?
New episodes of War air on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, as detailed by mashable.com. In the United Kingdom, the series broadcasts on Sky Atlantic and streams on Now, while viewers in Australia can watch the show on HBO Max, according to The Guardian.
What are viewers asking about the new HBO series?
Has War been renewed for a second season?
Yes. tvguide.com reports that the anthology series has already secured a renewal for a second season, which is set to star Marisa Tomei and Kelly Macdonald.
Who created and directed the series?
George Kay created and wrote the eight-part drama, while Ben Taylor serves as the director, as noted by Country and Town House.
What financial stakes drive the divorce proceedings?
The-independent.com notes that the divorce involves millions of dollars and a contested prenup dictating that both parties walk away with the assets they brought into the 10-year marriage.
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