A bitter divorce is about to become a legal battlefield in War, the new HBO and Sky legal drama starring Dominic West and Sienna Miller.
The newly released full trailer gives a closer look at the eight-part series, which follows tech entrepreneur Morgan Henderson, played by West, and international film star Carla Duval, portrayed by Miller, as their marriage breaks down and their separation turns into a headline-making legal fight. Sky officially released the full trailer on September 17, ahead of the series’ October debut.
Two rival law firms enter the fight
At the center of War are two of London’s most powerful law firms, Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne. Their battle over the Henderson-Duval divorce draws ambitious young lawyer Jonathan “Johnny” Warren, played by Archie Renaux, into an unforgiving legal world where professional ambition, betrayal and the pursuit of victory collide.
The series follows the case from the perspective of both the estranged couple and the lawyers fighting on their behalf. What begins as a high-profile divorce quickly becomes a major professional contest between the rival firms.
West plays Morgan Henderson, a British tech entrepreneur, while Miller stars as Carla Duval, an international film star. The first season centers on their explosive separation and the lengths Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne are prepared to go to secure victory for their respective clients.
An ensemble cast led by West, Miller and Renaux
Renaux’s Johnny Warren is drawn into the case as he begins navigating the competing interests and intense personalities at the two firms.
The cast also includes Phoebe Fox as Serena Byrne and James McArdle as Nicholas Taylor, partners in both life and business at Taylor & Byrne.
At rival firm Cathcarts & Sons are Nina Sosanya as Beatrice “Queen Bea” Ubosi and Pip Torrens as St John Smallwood.
The ensemble further features 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 brings another legal thriller to HBO and Sky
War was created, written and executive produced by George Kay, whose previous credits include Lupin, Hijack and The Long Shadow. Ben Taylor serves as lead director, with Laurie Borg as series producer.
The series is produced by Banijay-owned New Pictures and Observatory Pictures, in association with Sky and HBO. Executive producers include Willow Grylls and Matt Sandford for New Pictures, along with Susan Breen, Ben Taylor, Andrea Dewsbury and Megan Spanjian for Sky.
The drama was ordered for two seasons from the outset. The second season is already in production and will move the focus to another legal battle, this time involving an explosive defamation case. Marisa Tomei, Kelly Macdonald and David Harewood are set to star in that storyline.
When does War premiere?
The first season consists of eight episodes.
In the U.S., War premieres October 1 on HBO and HBO Max. In the UK, the series launches October 2 on Sky and NOW, with episodes rolling out weekly. The series will also be available through HBO Max in Australia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, France and Belgium.
The new drama is positioned as the first chapter in an anthology of headline-making legal battles, with the second season expanding the story beyond the divorce at the heart of the opening run.
The full trailer sets up a courtroom and corporate battle in which the stakes extend well beyond the marriage itself, placing West and Miller at the center of a legal conflict that will put both rival firms to the test.