Apple TV+ unveils first look, airdate for WWII limited series ‘Masters of the Air’ from Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, co-starring Austin Butler

Ray Richmond
·4 min read
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Apple TV+ announced a January 26, 2024 premiere date and unveiled the first look at the highly-anticipated nine-part, fact-based, World War II limited series “Masters of the Air,” based on the Donald L. Miller book of the same name and emerging from the same executive producing team of Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman that made the multiple Emmy-winning, HBO WWII miniseries “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific.” The wartime drama, scripted for streaming by writer John Orloff, stars 2023 Oscar nominees Austin Butler (“Elvis”) and Barry Keoghan (“The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Saltburn”).

The epic “Masters of the Air” follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group (the so-called “Bloody Hundredth”) between 1942 and ’45 as they conduct perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany and grapple with the frigid conditions, lack of oxygen and sheer terror of combat conducted at 25,000 feet. Portraying the emotional and psychological toll paid by these young men as they helped to destroy the horror of Hitler’s Third Reich is at the heart of the true story. Some of the bombadiers were shot down and captured. Others were wounded or killed. Some were lucky enough to make it home. But even those who survived physically intact paid a heavy price for their courage.

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Said executive producer Goetzman: “‘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 visualize cinematically what our author Don Miller has called ‘this singular event in the history of warfare.’ We’re thrilled that Apple TV+ has given us the opportunity to combine the efforts of so many talented people, on-screen and behind the camera, to tell this important story.”

HBO was reportedly in the running to produce “Masters of the Air” a few years back but ultimately balked due to the massive cost. The budget for the series is said to have exceeded $250 million and could be as high as $300 million-plus, a price tag that wasn’t an issue for Apple.

In addition to Butler and Keoghan, the series cast features Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Nate Munn, Kai Alexander, Rafferty Law, Josiah Cross, Branden Cook and Ncuti Gatwa. Among its handful of directors is Cary Joji Fukunaga (a 2014 Emmy winner for “True Detective” and director of the 2021 James Bond feature “No Time to Die”).

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“Band of Brothers” premiered in 2001 and won six Emmy Awards, including Best Miniseries. Similarly, “The Pacific” took home eight Emmys (including top miniseries) in 2011. So the potential for “Masters of the Air” to become a major limited series player at the 2024 Emmys late next summer stands to be huge.

The Apple Studios production is exec produced by Spielberg through Amblin Television, and Hanks and Goetzman for Playtone. Amblin TV’s Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey co-executive produce alongside Playtone’s Steven Shareshian. In addition to writing, Orloss also co-executive produces. Graham Yost also serves as co-executive producer.

“Masters of the Air” will premiere on Apple TV+ with a pair of episodes on January 26, with one episode dropping every Friday thereafter through March 15, 2024.

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