Grab a pint and prepare yourself—Netflix just served up the first look at House of Guinness, and if the early images are any indication, this is about to be your next historical drama obsession.
Premiering September 25, 2025, House of Guinness is the latest prestige period series from Netflix, and it promises all the rich storytelling, political tension, and scandalous family dynamics you’d expect from a series tracing the rise of one of Europe’s most powerful families. Think Succession meets Downton Abbey, but with more stout and corsets.
Created and written by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Taboo, See), the series is inspired by the real-life legacy of the legendary Guinness family, whose name became synonymous with Ireland’s most iconic export: Guinness beer. Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York, the series kicks off in the wake of the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness, the visionary businessman who turned the Guinness brewery into a global empire.
But death is just the beginning.
The real story unfolds around the fallout from Sir Benjamin’s will, which sends shockwaves through both the Guinness family and the workers of Dublin who orbit the Guinness brewery’s enormous influence. At the center are Sir Benjamin’s four adult children—Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben—each wrestling with questions of power, identity, duty, and the weight of their family name. Meanwhile, a cast of city dwellers, rebels, clergymen, and social climbers swirl around the Guinnesses, some seeking fortune, others revenge, and many just trying to survive.
The cast is stacked with rising stars and familiar faces:
- Anthony Boyle (Masters of the Air, Manhunt) brings gravitas as Arthur Guinness, the ambitious eldest son
- Louis Partridge (Enola Holmes, Disclaimer) stars as the spirited Edward Guinness
- Emily Fairn (The Responder) plays Anne Plunket (née Guinness), who seems poised to be a quiet but forceful player
- Fionn O’Shea (Normal People) takes on the role of Benjamin Guinness, likely the emotional heart of the family’s legacy
- James Norton (Happy Valley, Bob Marley: One Love) joins the drama as Sean Rafferty, a mysterious outsider with ties to the family’s past and future
The ensemble is rounded out by a slate of critically acclaimed talent including Jack Gleeson (Game of Thrones), Ann Skelly (The Nevers), Danielle Galligan (Shadow and Bone), and Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones). It’s a cast that feels both excitingly fresh and seasoned enough to deliver the kind of layered performances that period dramas thrive on.
Behind the camera, Tom Shankland (The Serpent) and Mounia Akl (Costa Brava, Lebanon) share directing duties across the series’ two blocks. With a production team led by Kudos and Nebulastar—and executive producers including Karen Wilson, Elinor Day, and Steven Knight himself—House of Guinness is being positioned as one of Netflix’s most ambitious historical dramas to date.
Visually, the first-look images are steeped in rich tones, candlelight, and the kind of art direction that screams Emmy-worthy. There’s a sense of moody luxury, but also grit—suggesting a story where beauty and betrayal go hand in hand. Fans of The Crown, Gentleman Jack, The English, or Peaky Blinders will likely find themselves right at home in the world Netflix is building here.
But what makes House of Guinness especially compelling is its unique subject matter. Unlike other aristocratic tales, this one revolves around beer, industry, and Irish identity—offering the potential for fresh historical drama that isn’t solely focused on royalty or upper-crust English society. It’s a story about power, yes, but also production. It’s about the making of a global brand, and the people—often unseen—who made it possible.
So whether you’re a history buff, a costume drama fan, or just here for the family feuds and forbidden romances, mark your calendar.
House of Guinness begins pouring drama on September 25, 2025.
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