Calling all Guinness fans, trouble is brewing on Netflix! It’s finally time to raise a glass to the highly anticipated show based on the Irish brewing dynasty, House of Guinness. The brand-new Netflix series created by Stephen Knight, Oscar-nominated writer of Peaky Blinders, was released on September 25th and is already considered a huge success. The series premier event took place on Tuesday, September 24th in London where it was announced that a second season has been confirmed and fans can expect to see even more big names featured in the next season. If you’re a fan of historical dramas that have just as much fact as they do fiction, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about House of Guinness!
House of Guinness is created by British writer Stephen Knight, who you may recognize as the creative mind behind Peaky Blinders, SAS: Rogue Heroes, A Thousand Blows, and the new James Bond film. The 8-episode Netflix series is centered around the dramatic story of Ireland’s most famous brewing dynasty, the Guinness family.
House of Guinness takes place in 1868, following the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness, also known as the man who turned Guinness into a global empire. His unexpected passing leaves his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Benjamin, with a legacy to carry out and a will that changes their lives as they know it. The battle that follows is a struggle of power and loyalty filled with family drama, shifting alliances, and the unimaginable pressure that comes with inheriting the biggest brewery in the world. Knight has compared the series set in 19th-century back alleys and stately mansions of Dublin to the beloved HBO hit, Succession, but with a historical twist. Will the young family be able to sustain the growing juggernaut that is Guinness, or will they lose everything? You’ll have to watch the show to find out!
The House of Guinness main cast was expertly chosen to play characters who are supposed to be in their 20s, as the real-life people were young men and women at the time of the inheritance.
Anthony Boyle, who you may recognize from his role in ‘Masters of the Air’ plays Arthur Guinness, the oldest son who believes he should be the sole heir of the Guinness brewery. Louis Partridge, who is no stranger to Netflix hits since his big role in the Sherlock Holmes spinoff ‘Enola Holmes, steps into the role of Edward Guinness, his brother and business partner. Emily Fairn from ‘Somewhere Boy’ plays Anne Plunket, their sister who takes on a more charitable approach when it comes to her inheritance, and Fionn O’Shea, known for his role in ‘Normal People’ plays Benjamin, the troubled younger brother who struggles with addiction and is seen as unfit to lead the family. Out of all the main characters featured in the show, the only one that was completely made up is Sean Rafferty, played by James Norton from ‘Happy Valley, who causes even more of a rift between the main siblings.
As with all historical dramas, fans are often left to wonder how much of the story told is what really happened. As for House of Guinness there’s a perfect mix of fiction with fact that keeps things interesting. For example, the Guinness siblings were in fact real people and many of the events you’ll see in the show actually happened at the time. But the majority of the romances, conversations and betrayals have been either dramatized or completely made-up. The political issues surrounding the Fenians, Irish revolutionaries, targeting Guinness interests is real history from that time, but some characters like the brewery foreman were created to add even more drama. Steven Knight actually worked closely with Ivana Lowell, a Guinness heiress, who confirmed fact vs. fiction surrounding her family’s history.
If you haven’t already binged the new Netflix series, what are you waiting for? With 8 episodes of non-stop passion, conflict and history set in 19th century Dublin and a star-studded cast, we can’t wait to see why trouble is brewing in the world of Guinness. Now that we know a second season is in the works, fans can expect to see even more of this “naturally wild clan” and their epic story inspired by one of Europe’s most famous dynasties!
Don’t forget to pour yourself a pint using an official Guinness embossed glass! Check out our wide selection of Guinness-themed merch from pint glasses to clothing & apparel at SoccerCards.ca.
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