Masters of the Air Trailer: Austin Butler Takes to the Skies in Apple WWII Drama

The team behind Band of Brothers is bringing the airmen of World War II to vivid life in Apple TV+’s new limited series Masters of the Air.

The streamer has released a teaser trailer for the series, which debuts Friday, Jan. 26 and boasts Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Gary Goetzman — who previously worked on HBO’s Band of Brothers and The Pacific — as executive producers. Elvis star Austin Butler leads an ensemble cast as an American pilot who marvels at the lights in the sky from nearby warfare: “When you look at it, if you don’t pay attention to what’s really going on, it’s kind of beautiful.” He and his fellow airmen form a tight bond as they take to the skies to “bring the war to Hitler’s doorstep,” dodging artillery shells and engaging in fierce dogfights with the enemy. They’re tasked with what Butler’s character calls “a suicide mission,” but he decides: “We lead our boys through it.”

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Based on the book by Donald L. Miller and written by Band of Brothers veteran John Orloff, Masters of the Air “follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group (the ‘Bloody Hundredth’) 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 in the air,” per the official description. “Some were shot down and captured; some were wounded or killed. And some were lucky enough to make it home. Regardless of individual fate, a toll was exacted on them all.”

Along with Butler, the cast includes Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Nate Mann, Rafferty Law, Josiah Cross, Branden Cook, and Ncuti Gatwa. Press PLAY above for a sneak peek at Masters of the Air, and then hit the comments below to share your first impressions.

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