Sienna Miller and Dominic West Go to ‘War’ in HBO’s Glossy Celebrity Divorce Drama

Few things fascinate audiences quite like a messy divorce between the rich and famous. HBO is leaning right into that obsession with ‘War’, a new legal drama starring Sienna Miller and Dominic West as a high-profile couple whose split turns into an all-out battle.

The series comes from George Kay, the creator behind the hit thrillers ‘Lupin’ and ‘Hijack’. Produced by New Pictures and Observatory Pictures in association with Sky and HBO, it is designed as an anthology centered on 2 rival London law firms, Cathcarts and Taylor & Byrne.

‘War’ premiered on HBO in the US on October 1 and arrived on Sky Atlantic and HBO Max in parts of Europe on October 2. Now that the 8-episode first season is out, critics have weighed in on the series, with many praising it as a sharp, entertaining legal drama, even if not everyone was won over.

West plays Morgan Henderson, a tech billionaire, while Miller stars as Carla Duval, an A-list actress whose fame is starting to teeter as she ages. When Carla files for divorce, their split quickly becomes a public spectacle, setting up what has been billed as the biggest divorce trial in British history.

Both law firms are ready to pull out all the stops for their clients. The ensemble cast includes Marisa Tomei, Kelly Macdonald, David Harewood, Richard Schiff, James McArdle and Phoebe Fox.

New trailer for ‘WAR,’ starring Sienna Miller and Dominic West, has been released. The series debuts October 1st on HBO Max. https://t.co/AiVGr3JY22

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) September 17, 2026

In one striking image from the series, Miller’s Carla strides past a crush of photographers in dark sunglasses and a sharp pinstripe suit with a tie. It’s a fitting snapshot of a story where public perception is just as important as what happens in court.

Variety was among the most enthusiastic, calling the series a thrilling legal drama and praising Miller and West as highly believable as 2 people who once shared a deep affection. The outlet also highlighted the glimmers of humanity the show weaves between moments of sabotage and betrayal.

The Playlist said a terrific ensemble helps land the show’s punches, adding that Kay continues his hot streak. The review also pointed to a life-imitates-art angle, noting that both stars are no strangers to making headlines for their personal lives.

TechRadar went even further, calling ‘War’ a British legal drama at its best. It praised Celia Imrie as a scene-stealer and enjoyed her reunion with Nick Mohammed, though it noted the storyline can feel one-note.

Other critics were far less impressed. TV Guide called it the tamest war you’ll ever see, arguing that the series pulls too many punches, though it conceded the show is totally watchable and noted Miller gets to wear plenty of fabulous coats.

IndieWire’s Ben Travers was harsher still, describing the show as mindless and taking issue with lawyers who make implausible mistakes. NPR landed somewhere in the middle, calling it classy-trashy while praising West and Miller as solid in their roles.

Whatever the critical verdict, HBO and Sky are clearly confident in the concept. The networks ordered 2 seasons in an anthology format, and after filming on the first season wrapped in February, production moved ahead on season 2.

New episodes continue to roll out weekly, with episode 4 set for October 22. With its glossy production and juicy premise, ‘War’ looks set to become one of the season’s most talked-about dramas.

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