War is an eight-part legal drama premiering on the BBC that centers on the acrimonious divorce between two wealthy individuals. Dominic West portrays Morgan Henderson, a technology entrepreneur and billionaire, while Sienna Miller plays Carla Duval, a Hollywood actress seeking half of her estranged husband’s fortune with assistance from her legal team. The pair previously collaborated in a West End production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It over two decades ago.
The series was created by George Kay, who previously worked with West on the BBC drama The Hour. Kay conceived the project after overhearing a conversation in an airport lounge between a woman celebrating the completion of her four-year divorce proceedings. This encounter prompted him to explore the world of high-stakes, high-end divorces, which he found filled with dramatic elements including prenuptial agreements, infidelity, and property disputes. While the storyline is original, one scene was inspired by a real incident involving actress Olivia Wilde being served custody papers at a public event.
Kay drew inspiration from 1990s and 2000s legal television programs including Ally McBeal, The Good Wife, and The West Wing, seeking to recreate their wit and fast-paced dialogue. The supporting cast includes Miles Jupp and Nick Mohammed as solicitors representing opposing firms, alongside Celia Imrie as a barrister. Kay deliberately selected comedic actors capable of delivering sharp, rapid exchanges to maintain the show’s energy and tone.
Neither of their characters possesses obvious redeeming qualities. Miller described finding ways to embrace Carla’s unappealing narcissistic traits rather than attempt to humanize her. West explored the concept of a “benign billionaire” through research including the BBC podcast Good Bad Billionaire, though his character Morgan demonstrates ruthlessness in divorce negotiations and interpersonal dynamics. A second series is already in development, with the rival law firms taking on a defamation case.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI