Netflix’s Addictive Eight-Part Period Drama Racks Up 35.7 Million Viewing Hours as Season 2 Is Officially Confirmed
A historical family drama from the creator of Peaky Blinders has captured millions of hours of viewing time on Netflix, with its gripping power struggles, betrayals and cliffhanger ending leaving audiences eager for another season. House of Guinness, the eight-part series from Steven Knight, recorded an impressive 35.7 million hours watched in its opening week — and its story is far from over.
Released on September 25, 2025, the drama quickly climbed Netflix’s global English-language television rankings, securing third place behind Jude Law’s Black Rabbit and Mae Martin’s thriller Wayward.
Now, following months of speculation about the show’s future, Netflix has officially confirmed that the Guinness family saga will return for a second season.
Peaky Blinders Creator Steven Knight Turns to Another Powerful Dynasty
Steven Knight is best known for creating Peaky Blinders, the acclaimed BBC crime drama starring Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby.
Running from 2013 to 2022, the series followed the Shelby family as they expanded their criminal empire in post-World War I Birmingham.
Its combination of family rivalries, political intrigue and ruthless ambition helped establish Knight’s reputation for writing complex historical dramas.
With House of Guinness, he explores a different kind of empire.
The new series transports viewers to 19th-century Dublin, where the future of the Guinness brewing dynasty is thrown into uncertainty following the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness.
Set in 1868, the story begins with the reading of his will, which places the family’s four adult children on dramatically different paths.
What follows is a struggle involving inheritance, influence, political tensions and competing ambitions.
Four Siblings Face a Battle for the Guinness Fortune
At the centre of the drama are Arthur Guinness, played by Anthony Boyle, Edward Guinness, portrayed by Louis Partridge, Anne Plunket, played by Emily Fairn, and Benjamin Guinness, played by Fionn O’Shea.
Each sibling faces a different challenge following their father’s death.
Arthur struggles with the responsibilities that come with leadership, while Edward is determined to establish his own position within the family empire.
Anne finds herself fighting for greater influence in a family environment dominated by competing interests.
Benjamin, the youngest sibling, becomes caught between the conflicts unfolding around him.
Their difficulties extend beyond the immediate family.
Cousin Byron Hedges, portrayed by Game of Thrones actor Jack Gleeson, and Aunt Agnes, played by Dervla Kirwan, add further complications.
As disagreements intensify, betrayals, political tensions and arrests threaten the family’s stability.
The siblings must navigate these challenges while attempting to preserve the brewing empire established by their father.
James Norton Joins the Star-Studded Historical Drama
Alongside its central cast, House of Guinness features James Norton as Sean Rafferty, a fixer whose role connects him to the family’s complicated affairs.
The ensemble also includes Michael McElhatton and several other performers who help bring the historical setting to life.
The series combines elaborate period costumes, detailed production design and an atmospheric recreation of 19th-century Dublin.
However, the visual spectacle is only part of its appeal.
Knight places complicated family relationships at the heart of the story, using the Guinness dynasty to explore ambition, loyalty and the consequences of power.
The result has drawn comparisons with his previous work, particularly the conflicts that shaped the Shelby family in Peaky Blinders.
Netflix Drama Reaches 35.7 Million Hours Watched in Its First Week
Following its September 2025 release, House of Guinness attracted significant attention on Netflix.
The series accumulated 35.7 million viewing hours during its opening week.
That performance secured third place on Netflix’s global English-language television chart, behind Black Rabbit and Wayward.
The eight-episode format also encouraged viewers to watch several instalments in succession.
Some admitted that they had intended to watch only a small part of the series before becoming absorbed in the family’s complicated relationships.
Others praised its pacing, historical atmosphere and the tensions surrounding the four Guinness siblings.
However, the ending left viewers with unresolved storylines and questions about whether the series would continue.
When Will House of Guinness Season 2 Begin Filming?
Production on the second season is expected to begin in early 2027.
Filming is planned to take place in Dublin and Manchester, continuing the locations used to bring the historical world to the screen.
Netflix has not announced an official release date for the new episodes.
For viewers frustrated by the first season’s unresolved ending, however, the renewal confirms that the Guinness family story will continue.
With its blend of inheritance disputes, personal rivalries and political intrigue, the drama has established a foundation for another chapter in the family’s history.
All eight episodes of House of Guinness Season 1 are available to stream on Netflix.