'World on Fire': Release date, plot, cast and everything you need to know about BBC's World War II miniseries

The seven-episode season one for BBC revolves around the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 and ends with the Battle of Britain
PUBLISHED AUG 19, 2019

Upcoming war drama miniseries 'World on Fire' is all set to air on BBC. Produced by Mammoth Screen, Rebecca Eaton announced at the TCA summer press tour that the seven-episode season one revolves around the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 and ends with the Battle of Britain.

Damien Timmer, Mammoth Screen Managing Director, added, "We're thrilled by the talent and breadth of the incredible cast and production team that have come together to tell this extraordinary story. A drama that pieces together World War II with Peter Bowker's characteristic irreverence and humanity, tracing the connections between allies and enemies, and the huge battles we thought we knew. From the siege of Warsaw to Dunkirk, the fall of Paris and the battle of Britain, here is an epic story told on a human scale, with a truly international cast."

Release date

The official release date for the BBC show is not out yet. Stay tuned for latest updates.

Plot

"At the very heart of any war are the families affected by it. 'World on Fire' follows the fates of five characters – from England, France, Germany, Poland, and America – as their stories weave in and out of each other. Love, death, heroism, and forgiveness bind them together as the world changes around them. Our colleagues at Mammoth Screen and the BBC are just the right people to tell this story," Eaton said at the press tour.

Cast

Helen Hunt

Helen Hunt attends the Premiere Of Mirror And LD Entertainment's 'The Miracle Season' at The London West Hollywood on March 27, 2018, in West Hollywood, California. (Getty Images)

Helen Hunt is set to play a pivotal part in the show. The actress won the Academy Award for Best Actress for 'As Good as It Gets' (1997). Her other notable films include 'Twister' (1996), 'Cast Away' (2000), 'What Women Want' (2000), 'Pay It Forward' (2000), 'Bobby' (2006), 'Soul Surfer' (2011) and 'The Miracle Season' (2018). 

Sean Bean

Sean Bean attends the 'Game Of Thrones' season 8 premiere on April 03, 2019 in New York City. (Getty Images)

Sean Bean will be playing a major role in the series. Known for portraying Lord Eddard Stark in 'Game of Thrones',  he has also starred in several other shows like 'Patriot Games' (1992), 'Golden Eye' (1995), 'Ronin' (1998), 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy (2001–2003), 'Equilibrium' (2002), 'National Treasure' (2004), 'Troy' (2004), 'North Country' (2005), 'The Island' (2005), 'Silent Hill' (2006), 'Black Death' (2010), 'Jupiter Ascending' (2015) and 'The Martian' (2015).

Other actors in the cast include Lesley Manville, Jonah Hauer-King, Julia Brown, Polish Academy Award-winner Zofia Wichłacz, Brian J. Smith, Parker Sawyers, Tomasz Kot, Bruno Alexander, Johannes Zeiler, and Eugénie Derouand.

Director/Writer

The series has been written by Peter Bowker. Adam Smith, who is known for his work on 'Trespass Against Us', is the director of the first two episodes. According to Deadline, Thomas Napper is directing episode three, Chanya Button is directing episodes five and six, and Andy Wilson is directing episodes four and seven.

The distribution of the series is handled by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

Where to watch  

The series will be available on BBC. However, the release date is not out yet.

If you like this, you'll love these:

'The Pacific'

'War & Peace'

'Generation Kill'

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