Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks can do no wrong when it comes to media revolving around WWII. Three years after collaborating on one of the best WWII films, Saving Private Ryan, the duo once again joined forces for one of the best WWII series with 2001’s Band of Brothers. The next two decades saw Spielberg and Hanks produce two more companion series to the 2001 acclaimed show, with the recent entry being Masters of the Air.
While not as acclaimed as the original and The Pacific, the 2024 Apple TV+ mini-series excels with its realistic midair combat and perfectly sows the seeds for a potential sequel.
Masters of the Air Perfectly Sows the Seeds for a Sequel
Produced by the same trio responsible for the previous two entries, Masters of the Air revolves around the Mighty Eighth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces. Focused around the 100th Bomb Group, the big-budget mini-series was critically well-received for its blend of realistic midair combat with CGI, but the show also sowed the seeds for a potential sequel.
The famous Tuskegee Airmen, made of African American elite fighter pilots, who formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group, gets an introduction in the later episodes of the show. Responsible for flying the P-51 Mustang, arguably the most dominant aircraft in all of WWII, their story could serve as a contrast to that of the 100th Bomber Group, if adapted for the next series in line.
Unlike the unlucky 100th Bomber Group, which struggled to reach 25 missions, following the dangerous nature of their paths, resulting in higher casualties, the Tuskegees flew more than 1800 missions. Considering the show could only delve into a few major missions, following the death of many major characters, adapting the Tuskegee Airmen’s story could help them dive deeper into aerial combat.
The Next Show in Line Might Not Be Helmed by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks
While time will tell if the Tuskegee Airmen’s story will be adapted for the next potential series, following the time gap between the three releases, it might be a long wait before that happens. But Gary Goetzman, who also serves as an executive producer on the show alongside Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, remains hopeful about a sequel to the Masters of the Air.
However, Goetzman expressed that the original trio might not return to helm a potential second season, as he stressed the possibility of letting someone new take the reigns.
He told The Wrap:
“I hope somebody does it, but I don’t know that it’ll be us. With ‘Band of Brothers,’ ‘The Pacific’ and ‘Masters of the Air,’ I feel like [it’s] somebody else’s turn.”
Following the success of the Apple TV+ series, it’s safe to say a sequel will transpire eventually in the foreseeable future.
Masters of the Air is available to stream on Apple TV+.
