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They illuminated the night sky of the European theatre in World War II. Now, the pilots of the Bloody Hundredth are dive bombing onto our small screens in Apple TV+’s upcoming war epic, Masters Of The Air.
From the production duo that brought you the army-centric Band Of Brothers and naval-focused The Pacific, Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks, comes a fictionalised depiction of the American “Bomber Boys” who rained fire over Hitler’s doorstep. The nine-part miniseries will strap you in at 25,000 feet above ground, encasing you in a barrage of ammunition, wartime skies and the essence of the American servicemen who helped bring Nazi Germany to its knees.
In the pilot’s seat is Austin Butler, who returns to the screen in his first role since Elvis as real-life squadron commander, Major Gale “Buck” Cleven. The role allows Butler another opportunity to flex his acquired-yet-now-his southern twang with the character gaining his wings in Texas and Louisiana air bases.
English actor Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts, The Boys In The Boat) also leads the production as the hot-headed Major C. Egan, the real-life best friend of Butler’s Cleven and fellow squad leader. Rounding out the cast is a slew of emerging Hollywood heavyweights, including Barry Keoghan (Saltburn, The Batman), Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education, Barbie) and newcomers Anthony Boyall and Raff Law. (Jude Law and Sadie Frost’s oldest son.)
With the show zooming onto Apple TV+ on January 26th, go for launch ahead with everything to know about the WWII epic drama.
What Is Masters Of The Air About?
Similar to Spielberg and Hanks’ previous WWII dramas, Masters Of The Air will tell the story of an esteemed group of Allied soldiers operating in one of the most brutal theatres of war in history. Master Of The Air will follow the real-life events of the 100th Bomb Group, a group of airmen and bomber pilots who operated as a strategic bombardment unit over Germany.
There’s never a guarantee that the squad members will return safely each time they take flight into the terrorising terrain above. This nail-biting set-up, which in real life could sometimes only last a matter of minutes, promises the series to be an emotionally gripping and harrowing look at the young, ambitious (and mostly white) men who put themselves in the line of fire.
Is Masters Of The Air Based On A True Story?
Masters Of The Air is based on the real-life events of the “Bloody Hundredth”—a bomber group serving in the Eighth Air Force who earned this nickname after suffering repetitive military misfortune at the hands of the German Luftwaffe.
The mini-series is adapted from the 2006 book of the same name. Written by historian Donald L. Miller, fellow producer Gary Goetzman said of the show: “Masters of the Air is a salute to the brave men of the 8th Air Force, who, through their courage and brotherhood, helped defeat Nazi Germany in World War II.”
“Tom and Steven have always wanted to visualise cinematically what our author Don Miller has called this ‘singular event in the history of warfare’,” he added.
It’s unlikely that we’ll see the context that prompted the creation of the unit—Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbour—but the unflinching causality of war and the high-flying confines of the Bloody Hundreth’s dangerous missions will no doubt be rendered with full emotional force.
When Will Masters Of The Air Be Released In Australia?
Masters Of The Air will be released in Australia (along with the rest of the world) on January 26th. The first two episodes will drop this Friday, with the subsequent episodes will drop each week, with the show’s cinematic finale due to drop on March 15th.
Where Can I Watch Masters Of The Air In Australia?
AppleTV+ will be the exclusive streaming platform. Click here for more details on how to access the production.
Who Is Cast In Masters Of The Air?
Austin Butler and Callum Turner—who you may recognise best as the man canoodling Dua Lipa at Los Angeles’ famed Sushi Park restaurant last week—both helm the title as squadron commanders, best friends and tactical pilots. A vast cast of British, Irish and American names round out the cast.
Ready to reach new heights? Watch the trailer for Masters Of The Air below.
