Skip to main content

ICYMI: Amazon WWII original series, The Man in the High Castle, releases this fall


Just in case you missed it among the din of Comic-con last month, Amazon’s original series The Man in the High Castle, which examines a scenario where the Axis won World War II rather than the Allies, is coming this fall — and the trailer for the series has the show looking dark and exciting.

The drama, deemed an “alternate history,” is based on the 1962 novel by Philip K. Dick and executive produced by Ridley Scott, will star Alexa Davalos (Mob City), Luke Kleintank (Pretty Little Liars), Rupert Evans (The Village), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat Legacy), and Rufus Sewell (Eleventh Hour). Scott, an English director and producer, is known for a string of hits movies, which include Blade Runner, Alien, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down. He also executive produces the popular TV series The Good Wife.

Related: Take a look at the new pilot episodes on Amazon original series

The pilot for the show was released in January to gauge viewer interest, and was deemed the most-watched of Amazon’s growing string of original series pilots. A month later, the program was, not surprisingly, picked up for the full season.

Based on the 1:47 minute trailer, it’s a dark show that will explore the grit and political unrest of the war in each hour-long episode. Playing ominously in the background is the Pledge of Allegiance with a dark yet soothing young girl’s voice singing. “Evil triumphs only when good men do nothing,” says one of the characters, setting the stage for one scene.

The Man in the High Castle Season 1 - Official Comic-Con Trailer | Amazon Video

Known as the deadliest war in history, World War II, which took place from 1939 through to 1945, involved more than 100 million people from 30 countries, divided into two groups known as the Allies and Axis. Allied were nations included the U.S., Soviet Union, U.K., France, and Poland; while the Axis were headed by Germany, Japan, and Italy. Following a series of devastating events, from the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the Holocaust, the Allies eventually came out as “victors.”

World War II sparked a massive change in the political world, including the establishment of the United Nations to help prevent conflicts going forward.

The Man in the High Castle will be available to Amazon Prime members through Amazon Instant Video some time this fall, but you can watch the pilot right now.

Editors' Recommendations

Christine Persaud
Christine has decades of experience in trade and consumer journalism. While she started her career writing exclusively about…
The best documentaries on Netflix right now
Three of the commentators in Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga.

There's a lot more to our world than what we see and experience in our own daily lives. And the best documentaries on Netflix offer us a glimpse into places few have ever seen. From beautifully filmed nature docs to true crime stories, and other subjects, documentaries allow us to learn more than we ever could on our own.

Netflix offers fans several new movies and series every month, and the documentary selection is one of Netflix's best features. For the latest additions to Netflix's documentary lineup, there's a look back at the GameStop short squeeze and the life of Hedy Lamarr. There are also two sports-related scandal docs, including Untold: Johnny Football and The Saint of Second Chances. If you're looking to expand your horizons, these are the best documentaries on Netflix right now.
We’ve also rounded up the best documentaries on Amazon Prime Video and the best documentaries on Hulu if Netflix doesn’t have what you’re looking for.

Read more
The 10 most popular movies on Netflix right now
Two parents stand above their kids in Spy Kids: Armageddon.

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services in the world, with nearly 240 million subscribers. And just what do those people tend to watch? In particular, what is the most popular movie on Netflix?

Each week, the streaming service releases a list of its 10 most-watched movies over the preceding seven days. Below, we've listed the top 10 movies in the U.S. from September 18 to September 24, along with general information about each film, such as genre, rating, cast, and synopsis.

Read more
Who is the best Spider-Man actor? All the Spider-Men, ranked
Blended image showing Tom Holland, Jake Johnson, and Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man against the background of a red and black spider's web.

Spider-Man is arguably the most popular and beloved superhero in modern pop culture. A staple in movies and television since the 1960s, Spidey is Marvel's crowning jewel, a near-universally adored hero that appeals to children and adults alike. Few superheroes have as much staying power as Spidey, cementing his place as a timeless icon and a staple of modern pop culture.

The web crawler has a rich and long history in movies and television. Since transitioning from the page to the screen in the Silver Age, Spider-Man has starred in countless animated series, received multiple live-action movies, and appeared as a major supporting figure in many other projects. But who, out of all the actors who have played him, is the best Spider-Man? It's not an easy decision - every actor has brought something unique and valuable to the table. However, some are undeniably better than others, and a few have become synonymous with the character. To begin, we will focus only on the character of Peter Parker, as he has the most depictions in movies and television.
19. Danny Seagren

Read more