WASHINGTON — HBO’s new legal drama “WAR,” starring Dominic West and Sienna Miller, follows two rival London law firms as they represent a British tech entrepreneur and an international film star in a contentious divorce.
West plays tech entrepreneur Morgan Henderson, while Miller portrays actress Carla Duval in the first season of the series, which explores the legal and personal conflicts surrounding their separation.
Showrunner and writer George Kay said the series draws inspiration from 1990s American network television and centers on two law firms facing each other in a new legal dispute each season.
“We wanted to just find a show that can put characters against each other constantly in an all-out fight,” Kay said.
The cast also includes Phoebe Fox, James McArdle, Pip Torrens, Nina Sosanya, Archie Renaux, Nick Mohammed and Celia Imrie.
Director Ben Taylor said the production spent more time than usual on casting because of the size of the ensemble. He said the series brought together British character and theater actors who recognized the potential in Kay’s scripts.
HBO has already renewed “WAR” for a second season, which will tell a separate story involving a defamation case. Oscar winner Marisa Tomei and Emmy winner Kelly Macdonald will lead the second season.
Kay said the second season will shift its focus from marriage, friendship and workplace relationships to how people view one another professionally.
The first episode introduces Henderson and Duval through separate perspectives before they share a scene in the final minutes. Taylor said the delayed meeting sets up the second episode, which centers on the former couple facing each other during mediation.
“WAR” premieres Oct. 1, with new episodes airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.