First Teaser Trailer for ‘Masters of the Air’

The producing team behind ‘Band of Brothers’ and ‘The Pacific’ returns for another tour of duty, this time in the skies over Europe.

Preview:

The first full teaser for ‘Masters of the Air’ has landed.
This is the new series from producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
Austin Butler, Callum Turner and Barry Keoghan lead the cast.

If you’re already a fan of the previous World War II dramas produced by (among others) Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, you’ll no doubt be happy to learn that a third show is on its way to screens.

Yes, following ‘Band of Brothers’ and ‘The Pacific’, the focus now turns to the skies as the new trailer for ‘Masters of the Air’ reveals. It’ll tell the story of heroic bombing crews (and associated air force types) who, in the words of pilot Major Gale ‘Buck’ Cleven (Austin Butler), looked to “bring the war to Hitler’s doorstep.”

With Apple having snatched the chance to make this show from the fingers of HBO (which backed the last couple of series), the budgets and production values look to still be of the highest order.

What’s the story of ‘Masters of the Air’?

'Masters of the Air' premieres globally January 26, 2024 on Apple TV+.

Based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name, and scripted by 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.

Portraying the psychological and emotional price paid by these young men as they helped destroy the horror of Hitler’s Third Reich, is at the heart of the series.

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.

Who else stars in ‘Masters of the Air’?

Barry Keoghan in 'Masters of the Air,' premiering January 26, 2024 on Apple TV+.

The ensemble for the new WWII drama also includes Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Nate Mann, Rafferty Law, Barry Keoghan, Josiah Cross, Branden Cook and Ncuti Gatwa.

Austin Butler talks ‘Masters of the Air’

Austin Butler in 'Masters of the Air,' premiering January 26, 2024 on Apple TV+.

Butler, who worked with Hanks on Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’, recalling to The Times of London that his co-star’s concern for his mental health after the grueling movie shoot led to him offering the young actor a role here:

“‘You have immersed yourself so deeply in Elvis that, for your mental health, it would be wise to go straight into something else. If you just jump off the train, you might have emotional whiplash… And, you know, I’ve got this thing I’m producing...’”

Of course, being thrown into the tumult of war (even one created for television) surely put different pressures on him!