HBO is turning the courtroom into a battleground with “WAR,” a new legal drama that explores ambition, betrayal and the high-stakes world of London’s most powerful lawyers. The HBO and Sky Original series, created by George Kay, will debut Oct. 1, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will stream on HBO Max.
Starring Dominic West and Sienna Miller, “WAR” follows two rival law firms as they go head-to-head in a headline-making divorce case involving a British technology entrepreneur and an international film star. The eight-episode first season will release new episodes weekly on Thursdays.
At the center of the story is the explosive divorce between tech entrepreneur Morgan Henderson, played by West, and international movie star Carla Duval, portrayed by Miller. Their split quickly becomes more than a private family matter as two elite London firms—Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne—fight to secure the best possible outcome for their respective clients.
The legal battle also pulls ambitious young attorney Jonathan “Johnny” Warren, played by Archie Renaux, into a world where professional ambition comes with enormous personal and ethical stakes. As the two firms compete, Johnny finds himself navigating a culture where winning can come at a steep price.
West and Miller lead an ensemble cast that includes Phoebe Fox and James McArdle as Serena Byrne and Nicholas Taylor, partners in both life and business at Taylor & Byrne. Nina Sosanya stars as Beatrice “Queen Bea” Ubosi, while Pip Torrens plays St John Smallwood, representing the rival Cathcarts & Sons team.
The extensive cast also 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.
“WAR” is co-produced by New Pictures, a Banijay company, 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.
With its combination of celebrity, courtroom strategy and competing legal powerhouses, WAR puts a dramatic spin on the personal and professional battles unfolding behind some of London’s most influential law firms.