Is Netflix's 'House of Guinness' Based on Real Life? What's The True Story Behind The Steven Knight Show?

Published 09/02/2025, 11:49 PM EDT

With an air of dark intrigue, Netflix announces its latest historical drama, House of Guinness, a series poised to hypnotize audiences with a tale of familial conflict and a brewing dynasty. From the acclaimed creator of Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight, comes a story that begins with the most dramatic of events: the death of the family patriarch. This raises a compelling question: Is this an epic of two stories, one based on a true account, and one a clever fiction?

Beyond the dramatic setup of a family's unraveling, a crucial question hangs in the air: how much of this saga is drawn from the records of history?

Is House of Guinness an epic of real events?

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House of Guinness is inspired by true events and is based on the real-life Guinness family. The series is set in the 19th century and begins with a pivotal moment in the dynasty's history: the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness in 1868. The series, although a work of fiction, draws its inspiration from the real-life Guinness dynasty. Creator Steven Knight worked diligently to create a faithful representation of the era, using documented events and actions of the family members as a foundation.

The show uses real people as its central characters, including Sir Benjamin's four adult children: Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben. While the series fills in the dramatic and emotional gaps with fictional storytelling, it draws from the historical record of the family's actions and achievements. The power struggles and family dynamics surrounding the will and the future of the brewing empire are based on real-life events. For instance, the show's focus on the joint stewardship of the brewery by brothers Arthur and Edward is rooted in the actual history of how they took over the company after their father's passing.

'House of Guinness' on Netflix: Everything You Need to Know About the 'Peaky Blinders' Creator's Upcoming Series

From its historically grounded narrative to its creative team, the series promises a rich and compelling viewing experience

Who will bring the history to the screen?

The highly anticipated series House of Guinness is an eight-episode historical drama. The show's direction is a collaborative effort between two filmmakers: Tom Shankland, who is known for his work on The Serpent, directed the first five episodes, while Mounia Akl, the director of Costa Brava, helmed the final three. The series is produced for Netflix by Kudos and is set to premiere globally on September 25, 2025.

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The cast of House of Guinness features a talented ensemble of both rising stars and established actors. Anthony Boyle, known for Masters of the Air, and Louis Partridge, from the Enola Holmes films, star as the two eldest brothers, Arthur and Edward Guinness. Emily Fairn portrays their sister Anne, and Fionn O'Shea from Normal People plays their youngest brother Ben. The cast is further enriched by the inclusion of BAFTA nominee James Norton, who plays the charismatic brewery foreman Sean Rafferty, as well as Dervla Kirwan and Jack Gleeson, among many other notable actors.

What Is 'House of Guinness' on Netflix? Full Breakdown of Release Date, Cast, Plot, and All Latest Updates You Need to Know

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Are you waiting for the release? Let us know in the comments below.

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Soma Mitra

283 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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