After landing the lead role in the popular show Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa is now set to star alongside Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan in the upcoming war drama Masters of the Air. And the producer of the show feels extremely fortunate to have the dynamic ensemble in the show. Based on Donald L. Miller’s bestseller, Masters of the Air, the miniseries follows the efforts of the Thorpe Abbotts-based Eighth Air Force, Norfolk, in destroying key European Nazi targets.
Goetzman, who is producing the series along with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, recently expressed his joy at achieving a star-studded ensemble for the show.
Producer Expresses Joy With the Masters of the Air Ensemble
Serving as a companion to their hit shows, Band of Brothers and The Pacific, Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, and Steven Spielberg’s next miniseries, Masters of the Air, delves into the pivotal campaigns of the US Air Force during World War II.
The miniseries, set to premiere on Apple +, features an ensemble cast led by Austin Butler and Callum Turner. It also features exceptional talents such as Barry Keoghan, Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa, Anthony Boyle, and Raff Law, among others.
Expressing genuine joy about the cast, Goetzman commended casting director Lucy Bevan and her team for a “brilliant job.” Reflecting on the unexpected addition of Ncuti Gatwa, Goetzman told Total Film, “Who knew we were going to have Doctor Who?”
He also recalled reaching out to Tom Hanks, for his thoughts on the cast, who responded with enthusiasm as well. “Dude, I think he’s great.’ We lucked out – it’s just a great bunch of guys. I couldn’t be prouder of them,” Goetzman recalled Hanks’ words, expressing his pride in the stellar ensemble.
Tom Hanks Offered Austin Butler Masters of the Air After Elvis
The producer of Masters of the Air, Tom Hanks, worked with Austin Butler in the 2022 film Elvis. Butler, who earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in the movie, shared that the film made him “go to the very edge of what is possible.”
Concerned about Butler’s deep involvement in the challenging role, Hanks advised him to focus on something else after the 2022 film. “If you just jump off the train, you might have emotional whiplash,” the Elvis star recalled Hanks’ advice during an interview with The Times of London.
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Expressing genuine concern for Butler’s well-being and a desire for him to move beyond the iconic role, the Forrest Gump star offered Butler to join the cast of the upcoming miniseries Masters of the Air. The show features him as Major Gale Cleven.
Masters of the Air is set to premiere on January 26, 2024, on Apple TV+.
