Netflix launches ‘House of Guinness’ period drama today

Netflix premiered House of Guinness, a new period drama from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, with all eight episodes available for streaming todaydeadline
The series follows the wealthy Guinness family in 1860s Dublin after patriarch Sir Benjamin Guinness’s death leaves his four adult children battling for control of their brewing empirenetflix
The cast includes James Norton as Sean Rafferty, Anthony Boyle and Louis Partridge as feuding Guinness brothers, and Game of Thrones alum Jack Gleesondeadline
Early reviews describe the series as “Succession with pints,” praising its visual style while noting it lacks the sharp intensity of Knight’s previous workdigitalspy
The production was conceived by Guinness descendant Ivana Lowell and features Knight’s trademark anachronistic music choices, including contemporary Irish artists over 19th-century visualsnetflix

Netflix launched its latest prestige drama “House of Guinness” today, marking the streaming giant’s biggest bet on period television since “The Crown.” The eight-episode series from “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight arrives with all episodes available for immediate binge-watching, positioning itself as the platform’s answer to HBO’s “Succession” with a distinctly Irish twist.deadline

The historical drama follows the wealthy Guinness brewing dynasty in 1860s Dublin after patriarch Sir Benjamin Guinness’s death leaves his four adult children battling over control of the family empire. Critics are already drawing parallels to both Knight’s breakout hit and HBO’s acclaimed corporate saga, with early reviews describing it as “Succession with stout”.digitalspy

Star-Studded Cast Brings Dynasty to Life

The series stars James Norton as Sean Rafferty, the brewery’s enigmatic foreman, alongside Anthony Boyle and Louis Partridge as feuding brothers Arthur and Edward Guinness. Emily Fairn and Fionn O’Shea round out the core family as siblings Anne and Benjamin, each harboring secrets that threaten to tear apart the brewing empire.netflix

Game of Thrones alumni Jack Gleeson returns to television as Byron Hughes, a distant cousin seeking his slice of the Guinness fortune, while veteran Irish actors including Dervla Kirwan and Michael McElhatton add gravitas to the ensemble cast.wikipedia

Knight, who recently revealed the show has “Peaky Blinders swagger,” told VIP Magazine he hopes audiences connect with “the grit and the warmth” of these real-life figures whose “story continues to this day”. The creator emphasized casting actors in their twenties to authentically portray the Guinness heirs, noting “it was important to get people of that generation to play the roles”.vipmagazine

Mixed Critical Reception Despite High Production Values

Early reviews praise the series’ visual splendor and Knight’s signature style while noting it lacks the sharp edge of his previous work. Variety called it “a solid family drama” but observed it “does not deliver the same electrifying intensity as Knight’s previous hit”. Screen Rant described it as “a stylish, juicy drama that’s a mix of Peaky Blinders & Succession,” though critics noted predictable storylines.variety

The production employed Knight’s trademark anachronistic music choices, featuring contemporary Irish artists like Fontaines D.C. and Kneecap over 19th-century visuals. Filming took place primarily in Liverpool and Manchester, doubling for period Dublin and New York.tomsguide

Notably, the series was conceived by Guinness descendant Ivana Lowell, great-great-great granddaughter of Sir Benjamin, ensuring family approval of the dramatization. Knight acknowledged the “responsibility” of depicting real people, telling the BBC: “You have to just write it and get the characters right”.hellomagazine