What if the end of the world began with a single signal from the stars? Prepare for a breathtaking descent into chaos and survival as War of the Worlds, the haunting reimagining of H.G. Wells’ legendary novel, premieres exclusively on Lionsgate Play.
Set in contemporary Britain and France, this modern twist on the sci-fi classic shatters the comfort of everyday life when astronomers detect a mysterious transmission from deep space — a message that confirms the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life. The world holds its collective breath, waiting for further contact. But the response is far from peaceful.
Within days, human civilization is decimated. Alien ships take to the skies, and Earth becomes a shadow of what it once was. The survivors, scattered in desolate cities and the eerie countryside, are left to grapple with an unrelenting question — Who are these invaders and why are they determined to destroy us?
Led by Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects), Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People), and Léa Drucker (Custody), War of the Worlds assembles a stellar cast to take you through emotional highs and devastating lows. Will the few remaining pockets of humanity find a way to fight back? Or will this invasion mark the end of all we know?
Gabriel Byrne expressed his views on what appealed to him about War of the Worlds, saying, “I think it’s extremely pertinent to the world we live in today. I think that the aliens, they’re a metaphor for the unknown, the fears and terrors that are out there. I think in the films of the 1950’s, for example, there were a great many stories about unseen and unknown forces coming to threaten the world and that was indicative of a time when the world was entering a nuclear age and a very scary place. The aliens there stood in for perhaps the ‘red menace’, as it was known at that time. I think we’ve got a great deal to fear in the world that we live in today, but a lot of those fears are unnameable and incomprehensible. We can’t articulate what it is exactly, so that’s why this story.“
On how War of the Worlds differs from other alien or sci-fi shows, Daisy Edgar-Jones, “It differs in that the stories are a lot more about the relationships between the human beings in the plot. It’s very much about the nuances of interrelationships and of people changing and of survival and of sacrifice and of what happens in these situations.”
Ready to watch humanity face its greatest threat yet? Catch War of the Worlds as Season 1 premieres on Lionsgate Play this December 6. Mark your calendars for the succeeding Fridays, because Season 2 and Season 3 are scheduled to land on December 13 and 20, respectively!