The foggy streets of Birmingham are behind us now. Steven Knight, the mastermind who gave us PEAKY BLINDERS, is trading razor-blade caps and cigarette smoke for something far more intoxicating: the dark, frothy legacy of Ireland’s most notorious brewing dynasty. When HOUSE OF GUINNESS premieres on Netflix this September 25, audiences won’t just be witnessing another lavish period drama about wealth and power—they’ll be diving headfirst into the shocking true story of a family whose scandals, betrayals, and generational secrets have somehow managed to stay buried beneath centuries of perfectly poured pints.
This is the story that Ireland never wanted told, the one that transforms your casual pub visit into something far more sinister. Set against the backdrop of 1860s Dublin and New York, the eight-part series zeroes in on one of the most explosive moments in brewing history: the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness in 1868 and the catastrophic aftermath of his will reading. Benjamin wasn’t just another wealthy industrialist—he was the grandson of Arthur Guinness himself, the visionary who famously signed that audacious 9,000-year lease on St. James’s Gate Brewery in 1759, essentially betting on eternity. Under Benjamin’s iron grip, the family business had evolved from a local Dublin operation into a global empire, their signature black stout flowing through the veins of the British Empire and beyond.
But empires built on liquid gold are particularly vulnerable to family poison, and Benjamin’s death ignited a feud that would make the Peaky Blinders look like choirboys. The series follows his four adult children—Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben—as they navigate the treacherous waters of inheritance, ambition, and sibling rivalry. Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, and Fionn O’Shea embody these young heirs who suddenly find themselves custodians of “black gold,” facing the terrifying prospect of either expanding their grandfather’s legacy or watching it crumble under the weight of their own desires.
Knight describes his fascination with this “naturally wild” clan, particularly their “zest for life—their lust for life, often literally.” It’s this raw, unapologetic appetite that drives the narrative, transforming what could have been a dry historical chronicle into something visceral and immediate. The recently released photos reveal siblings caught between ecstatic highs and heartbreaking lows, their faces reflecting the intoxicating burden of being born into greatness while simultaneously being capable of destroying it.
What makes HOUSE OF GUINNESS particularly compelling is how it illuminates the human cost of building an empire. These aren’t just wealthy heirs playing with their inheritance—they’re young people grappling with impossible expectations, their every decision capable of toppling a dynasty that took generations to build. Knight’s genius lies in recognizing that the most interesting stories aren’t about the creation of empires, but about their potential destruction from within.
The series promises to explore not just the family dynamics, but the broader ecosystem that sustained the Guinness phenomenon—the workers, the politicians, the hangers-on, and the countless Dublin characters whose lives became intertwined with the brewery’s success. This is Ireland during a period of massive transformation, when old ways were dying and new opportunities were emerging for those bold enough or ruthless enough to seize them.
For Knight, who earned an Oscar nomination for his previous work, this represents a natural evolution from the grimy streets of post-war Birmingham to the equally complex but more opulent world of Victorian Dublin. The themes remain consistent—family loyalty, the corruption of power, the price of ambition—but the stakes feel even higher when your family name is literally synonymous with Ireland itself.
HOUSE OF GUINNESS arrives at a moment when audiences are hungry for stories that blend historical authenticity with contemporary relevance. This isn’t just about understanding how a brewery became a global brand; it’s about examining how families navigate the impossible pressure of living up to legendary legacies while dealing with very human flaws and desires. The Guinness name may be on every pub wall across the world, but the family behind it has remained mysteriously private—until now.
🎬 CHRISTY from @sleeper.films hits different.
This Cork story isn`t your typical social realism - it`s got heart, humor, and the kind of authentic brotherhood that`ll stay with you long after the credits roll.
Out in Ireland/Northern Ireland Aug 29, watch the trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
🎰 Colin Farrell`s career glow-up continues!
From Oscar-nominations to the unrecognizable Penguin in THE BATMAN, and now as an obsessive gambler in Edward Berger`s BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER.
Mark your calendars: @tiff_net premiere Sept 9, limited release Oct 15, Netflix Oct 29. 🔥
* NEW TRAILER ALERT *
Cillian Muprhy`s latest project STEVE premieres at Toronto Film Festival before hitting Netflix October 3rd.
Murphy plays a reform school headteacher fighting to save his institution while battling his own demons—because this man never takes the easy route.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 HE`S BACK. After 8 years in "retirement," Daniel Day-Lewis returns to the screen in ANEMONE - and it`s personal.
The three-time Oscar winner emerges from his artistic sabbatical for his most intimate project yet: a family drama he co-wrote with his son Ronan, who`s making his directorial debut.
World premiere at NYC Film Festival. October 3rd limited release. The legend continues. 🔥
More at irishfilmtv.com.
📺 NEW TRAILER ALERT 📺
Premiering Aug 28, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB follows four retirees who spend their time solving cold case murders for fun - based on @misterosman’s bestselling novel.
Visit irishfilmtv.com for more!
🎭 LEGEND RETURNS TO THE STAGE 🎭
From Mad-Eye Moody to Uncle Pastuzo, Brendan Gleeson has captivated us on screen for decades. Now he`s making his WEST END DEBUT in THE WEIR! Dublin first (Aug 8-Sep 6) then London`s Harold Pinter Theatre (Sep 12-Dec 6).
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎭 From beloved DERRY GIRL to Chekhov star!
Saoirse-Monica Jackson is trading the screen for the stage in Kabosh`s bold new adaptation of THREE SISTERS at @gaiety_theatre.
Visit irishfilmtv.com for ticket links!
Liam Neeson just crushed it as Frank Drebin Jr. in THE NAKED GUN and now he`s diving headfirst into horror comedy with COLD STORAGE.
At 72, Neeson is still choosing the wildest projects and we`re absolutely here for it. COLD STORAGE hits theaters next year!
Watch the crazy trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
NEW trailer alert! 🎬 From STAR WARS galaxies to Ohio newsrooms!
Domhnall Gleeson is trading his General Hux uniform for editor-in-chief duties in THE PAPER - @peacock!`s brilliant new spin on THE OFFICE universe.
Premiering Sep 4, watch trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
From the Scottish Highlands to the boxing ring 🥊✨
Caitriona Balfe trades tartan for training gloves in THE CUT, Sean Ellis` brutal psychological boxing drama.
Our OUTLANDER queen steps WAY outside her comfort zone as Caitlin - wife, trainer, and witness to Orlando Bloom`s obsessed fighter spiraling toward self-destruction.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎵 "Music to scare priests and politicians" 🎵
@celtic_utopia is shaking up everything you thought you knew about Irish folk music. This isn`t your typical Celtic sound— it`s raw, rebellious, and revolutionary.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
DERRY GIRLS and GAME OF THRONES star Ian McElhinney hits the stage at @theeverymancork!
Running until Aug 10th - STONES IN HIS POCKETS has heart, humor, and a Hollywood ending that`ll leave you grinning! 🎭
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Hollywood heavyweights Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander as... otherworldly beings? 👀
Na Hong-jin is BACK! After 10 years since THE WAILING left us speechless, the master of psychological horror returns with HOPE - hitting theaters next summer!
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 From "I will find you" to "I will make you laugh" - Liam Neeson is trading his particular set of skills for punchlines in THE NAKED GUN!
Is this Neeson`s Leslie Nielsen moment? Could we be witnessing the birth of comedy`s newest unlikely hero?
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Andrew Scott`s BLUE MOON trailer released!
Shot in Ireland, this Richard Linklater gem pairs Scott with Ethan Hawke for a 1943 Broadway drama that`s already being called a masterpiece. Scott plays composer Richard Rodgers in what critics are calling his most nuanced performance yet 🎵
Watch trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
