War Machine: UK Netflix May 2017

This May, Netflix is bringing another political tragicomedy to the small screen: War Machine.

The ever-dashing (and these days grey-haired) Brad Pitt stars as General Glen McMahon, who is tasked with 'cleaning up the mess in Afghanistan' – should be an easy task, right?



Adapted from late journalist Michael Hastings’ book The Operators: The Wild And Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War In Afghanistan, War Machine is a dark satire centred around the general’s fall from grace in the face of politicians and the American public.

Brad Pitt’s character is based on General Stanley McChrystal, who was fired after Hastings published an exposé of his exploits in Rolling Stone. The only obstacle to General Brad Pitt's goals in this Netflix interpretation is the ethereal Tilda Swinton.

Billed as part reality, part savage parody, War Machine promises a fresh take on the well-trodden trope of American war stories.