HBO and Sky premiere George Kay legal drama War starring Dominic West and Sienna Miller

The breakdown of a billionaire marriage

The eight-episode HBO and Sky legal anthology drama War, written and created by George Kay, follows the high-stakes breakdown of a ten-year marriage between a British technology entrepreneur and an internationally recognized film star. Dominic West stars as Morgan Henderson, the founder of Zephyr, a London-based social media platform that has grown to challenge American competitors by utilizing ethical algorithmic models. The story begins in London, where Henderson accepts the Pioneer of the Year Award at an industry gala, delivering an acceptance speech to attendees before initiating an extramarital affair with Flora, played by Rose Williams. In Paris, his wife, actress Carla Duval, portrayed by Sienna Miller, undertakes a promotional press tour for her latest film while secretly preparing to end their relationship.

Competing legal firms and strategies

The marital split quickly escalates into a hostile corporate conflict involving billions of pounds in assets, mutual surveillance, and allegations of an orchestrated honey trap. Duval retains Taylor & Byrne, a progressive London firm led by married legal partners Serena Byrne, played by Phoebe Fox, and Nick Taylor, played by James McArdle. Their team expands with the arrival of Johnny Warren, portrayed by Archie Renaux, an ambitious young lawyer seeking professional redemption following a career setback in New York City. When paparazzi photographs of Duval's confidential strategy meeting in Paris appear in British tabloids, Henderson responds by hiring Cathcarts & Sons, a traditional firm represented by senior attorneys Beatrice 'Queen Bea' Ubos, played by Nina Sosanya, and St. John Smallwood, played by Pip Torrens.

Escalation and family fallout

The legal dispute unfolds across eight episodes, transitioning from routine marital separation into corporate espionage, private investigator disclosures, and courtroom maneuvering. The public battle draws intense media focus onto Duval's 16-year-old son Gabriel, played by Aran Murphy, testing family loyalties alongside financial settlements. Kay, known for creating the television series Lupin, Hijack, and Criminal, structures the narrative around tactical gambits in which each legal team attempts to anticipate and neutralize the other firm's motions. Characters across both legal camps repeatedly cite a phrase attributed to actor Keanu Reeves, 'The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way,' which also serves as the title of the series' sixth episode.

Character portrayals and production

Miller accepted the role of Duval after previously depicting performers across more than a dozen film, television, and theatrical productions. While acknowledging her past reluctance to portray celebrity figures who endure tabloid attention, she opted to explore the contrast between Duval's public image and private personal vulnerability.

It's funny, because I have no interest now in playing an actress or somebody who has paparazzi.

West portrays Henderson alongside a cast featuring Nina Sosanya, Pip Torrens, Phoebe Fox, James McArdle, and Archie Renaux across the eight-part broadcast on HBO and Sky.