Sky and HBO have announced ‘WAR’, a bold new legal thriller from George Kay (Lupin, Hijack), starring Dominic West (The Wire, The Crown) and Sienna Miller (Anatomy of a Scandal, American Sniper). The drama has already been given a two-series commitment, diving straight into the elite, scandal-soaked world of London law.
The series kicks off with a high-profile divorce case between tech titan Morgan Henderson (West) and his estranged wife, international film star Carla Duval (Miller). What begins as a battle over a marriage breakdown quickly spirals into a legal war that sends shockwaves through boardrooms, bedrooms, and courtrooms.
Directed by Ben Taylor (Sex Education, Catastrophe), the show is co-produced by New Pictures (Catherine the Great, The Long Shadow) and Kay’s Observatory Pictures.
The Rival Firms
At the heart of ‘WAR’ are two of London’s most prestigious rival law firms, Cathcarts and Taylor & Byrne, who face off over the “divorce case of the century.” Each is determined to win, and as loyalties fracture and reputations are put on the line, the courtroom drama becomes just the opening move in an anthology of headline-grabbing legal battles.
The supporting cast includes:
- Phoebe Fox (The Great, Task) as Serena Byrne and James McArdle (Playing Nice, Mare of Easttown) as Nicholas Taylor, the ambitious power couple behind Taylor & Byrne.
- Nina Sosanya (Screw, Baby Reindeer) as Beatrice “Queen Bea” Ubosi and Pip Torrens (Succession, The Crown) as St John Smallwood, their ruthless rivals at Cathcarts.
- Archie Renaux (Alien: Romulus, Upgraded) as Jonathan “Johnny” Warren, a hungry young lawyer eager to make his mark.
George Kay: A Leading UK Creator
Creator George Kay has built a reputation as one of the most exciting storytellers in modern British television, with a remarkable streak of hits that blend prestige drama with global appeal. He first drew attention with Criminal (2019–2020), which he co-created with Jim Field-Smith. The tense, international police procedural unfolded almost entirely inside interrogation rooms, showcasing Kay’s gift for character psychology and dialogue, while Field-Smith’s direction added to its taut atmosphere.
From there, Kay’s profile soared. He wrote Litvinenko (2022), the acclaimed ITVX drama directed by Field-Smith and starring David Tennant, praised for its sensitive retelling of the real-life poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko. He reunited with Field-Smith again for Hijack (2023), the Apple TV+ thriller led by Idris Elba, which played out in real time and became one of the streamer’s most addictive series.
But it was Netflix’s Lupin (2021–2023) that made Kay a global name. Inspired by the classic French gentleman thief, the stylish series became an international sensation and cemented his reputation for blending high-concept hooks with character-driven storytelling. In 2023, he returned to the UK with The Long Shadow, a BAFTA-winning ITVX drama that powerfully retold the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, demonstrating his ability to tackle weighty true crime with depth and sensitivity.
With ‘WAR’, Kay is stepping into the legal thriller arena, turning his eye for scandal, betrayal, and headline-grabbing drama to the cutthroat world of elite London law. It feels like the natural next move for a writer who has consistently delivered gripping, must-watch television.
Behind the Scenes
Speaking about the series, Kay said: “I am excited to be working with Sky and HBO – two homes for bold, ambitious storytelling – and our brilliant production team. WAR is a legal drama full of double crossing, scandal, twists and betrayal. The kind of TV show that made me want to write TV shows.”
Executive Producer Willow Grylls, CEO of New Pictures, praised the project’s scope, adding: “George Kay has created an incredibly compelling cast of characters who will have audiences rooting for them, despite the underhand tactics, dirty tricks and win at all cost mentality they bring to battle against each other in – and out – of court.”
Sky’s Meghan Lyvers called the show “ambitious and provocative, brimming with unforgettable characters,” while HBO’s Francesca Orsi described it as “a wild and wicked examination of the brutal battlefield that is divorce.”
Where to Watch
‘WAR’ will air on Sky and streaming service NOW in the UK, Ireland, and Italy, as well as on Sky and WOW in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It will air on HBO and HBO Max in the US, and stream on HBO Max in Australia. International distribution is handled by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution.
‘WAR’ does not yet have a premiere date but will air on Sky in the UK. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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