Last Updated on February 19, 2024

A new epic World War II era period drama is coming to PBS Masterpiece: “World on Fire” is an emotionally gripping and resonant story that follows the intertwining fates of ordinary people in five countries as they grapple with the effects of the war on their everyday lives.

Zofia Wichlaz as Kasia Tomaszeski, courtesy of Mammoth Screen

Watch the trailer below, and read about the historical drama. 

“World on Fire” is AVAILABLE to STREAM


What is World on Fire about?

Helen Hunt as Nancy Campbell, courtesy of Mammoth Screen

As MASTERPIECE Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton describes it, the new historical drama “follows the fates of five characters – from England, France, Germany, Poland, and America – as their stories weave in and out of each other’s. Love, death, heroism, and forgiveness bind them together as the world changes around them.”

Damien Timmer, Mammoth Screen Managing Director, added that the upcoming television series tells “an extraordinary story.” The period drama “pieces together World War II with… irreverence and humanity, tracing the connections between allies and enemies, and the huge battles we thought we knew. From the siege of Warsaw, to Dunkirk, the fall of Paris and the battle of Britain, here is an epic story told on a human scale.”

Who stars in World on Fire?

World on Fire, courtesy Mammoth Screen

The stellar international cast includes Academy Award®-winner Helen Hunt (Mad About You) as Nancy Campbell, Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) as Douglas Bennett, Academy Award®-nominee Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) as Robina Chase, Jonah Hauer-King (Howard’s End) as Harry Chase, and Blake Harrison (A Very English Scandal) as Stan.

Costume drama fans will recognize with Julia Brown (The Last Kingdom), Arthur Darvill (Little Dorrit), and Benjamin Wainwright (War & Peace), and Zofia Wichlaz (Warsaw ’44), among others.

When and where is World on Fire set?

Jonah Hauer-King as Harry Chase, courtesy of Mammoth Screen

Set in Britain, Poland, France, Germany and the United States, the events take place during the first year of the Second World War.

How many episodes are in World on Fire?

“World on Fire” is a seven-hour series, and season two is already confirmed. 

Who is behind the new period drama?

Lesley Manville as Robina Chase, courtesy Mammoth Screen

“World On Fire” is a Mammoth Screen (part of ITV Studios) production for the BBC and MASTERPIECE.

Peter Bowker, who created Desperate Romantics, and penned the screenplay for the 2009 adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” for PBS Masterpiece, wrote “World on Fire.”

Adam Smith (Little Dorrit) is directing episodes one and two, Thomas Napper (Anna Karenina) is directing episode three, Chanya Button (Vita & Virginia) is directing episodes five and six, and Andy Wilson (The Forsyte Saga) is directing episodes four and seven.

Cinematographers include Suzie Lavelle (The Living and the Dead) and John de Borman (Indian Summers).

Costume design for the series is by Nic Ede, whose work you’ll know form “Indian Summers,” “The White Queen,” and “Far from the Madding Crowd” (1998).

Jen Saguaro, who has worked on period dramas ranging from “Poldark” to “The Living and the Dead,” is responsible for set design, alongside Adrian Anscombe (Doctor Who), Sofie Othmanova (Carnival Row) and Petra Vencelidesova (The Aftermath).


When does “World on Fire” premiere?

Zofia Wichlaz as Kasia Tomaszeski and Jonah Hauer-King as Harry Chase, courtesy Mammoth Screen

“World on Fire” premiered on PBS Masterpiece April 5, 2020. A special presentation of the WWII drama starts April 4, at 10 PM ET, on MASTERPIECE after “Atlantic Crossing.”

“World on Fire” is AVAILABLE to STREAM

Watch the trailer below.

Update: Unfortunately “World on Fire” will not return for Season 3. At the Television Critics Association press tour on Monday, February 12, 2024, PBS Masterpiece executive producer Susanne Simpson announced the news that the wartime period drama has been canceled by the BBC after two seasons.

If you enjoyed this post, you’ll want to wander over to The Period Films List. You’ll especially like the Best Period Dramas: First World War Era List. You’ll also want to read about the new PBS adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small.