A Dramatic Parallel to Reality
HBO’s latest series, War, explores the complexities of high-stakes celebrity breakups. While the show draws inspiration from various real-life high-profile divorces, its premiere episode features a scene that directly mirrors the infamous moment Olivia Wilde was served custody papers while on stage at CinemaCon.
In the episode, which aired on Thursday, October 1, the fictional power couple Morgan, played by Dominic West, and Carla, portrayed by Sienna Miller, are both preparing to file for divorce. After discovering his wife's intentions, Morgan orchestrates a scheme to beat her to the punch, having an associate trick her into accepting legal documents during her own movie premiere.
The Creative Vision Behind the Scene
Creator George Kay discussed the inspiration in an exclusive interview, noting that while it is not a literal reenactment, the scene serves as a clear nod to the 2022 incident involving Wilde. “What I found really compelling about that actual real-life thing was how [Wilde] had to take on the brunt of the truth of what she’d just been served, and you really feel for her because she’s trying to do something else at the time,” Kay explained.
Kay praised Miller's performance, highlighting the technical challenge of the scene. “Sienna plays an actress, so she can do that amazing thing as an actress herself of playing the actress, because in a show that’s about lawyers, it’s all about performance and not showing how you’re really feeling,” he added. The show aims to contrast the glamorous world of a London film star with the life of a social media billionaire, highlighting how digital platforms can exacerbate the bitterness of public divorce proceedings.
Context of the Real-Life Incident
In 2022, Olivia Wilde was handed an envelope marked “personal and confidential” while presenting her film Don’t Worry Darling. It was later revealed that the envelope contained custody documents regarding her children with ex-partner Jason Sudeikis.
Reflecting on the traumatic event in a previous podcast interview, Wilde recalled the pressure to maintain composure:
«I will never forget one of the most f*ed-up things I went through, among so many, was that I was served papers on stage. Obviously, it was incredibly traumatizing. There’s so many elements to that.»
Wilde further noted the difficulty of the situation, stating, “I get through it because, weirdly, as women we’re taught to muscle through the most insane experiences. I was like, ‘Just finish your speech.’ [I] got through it, went backstage and completely dissolved into a puddle.”
Research and Production
The series War centers on two prestigious London law firms, Cathcarts and Taylor & Byrne, embroiled in the explosive divorce case of the tech entrepreneur and his wife. To ensure authenticity, the production team consulted with legal professionals.
“We have a brilliant lawyer consultant called Catherine who works with lots of high-powered divorce cases,” Kay shared. While the team initially considered pulling tactics directly from various celebrity separations, they eventually shifted their focus toward developing original, character-driven plot points as the writing progressed.
War airs on HBO every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET and is available for streaming on Max.