“I don’t like to reverse around a corner, let alone lead hundreds of aircraft in formation”: David Shields on Masters of the Air

Masters of the Air is the all-star new show from Apple TV+, which plunges viewers into the world of the 100^th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force during World War II. The miniseries, based on Donald L Miller’s acclaimed non-fiction book and spearheaded by John Shiban and John Orloff, charts the perilous exploits of the young American pilots who were drafted in to battle Nazi Germany by air, played by Austin Butler, Barry Keoghan and Callum Turner, to name but a few. Brought to life by the same team behind acclaimed shows Band of Brothers and The Pacific, including producers Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, it’s both a slick recreation of the era and an edge-of-your-seat ride through the physically and emotionally draining aspects of being a fighter pilot.

British actor David Shields, fresh from an unforgettable turn in the latest season of Black Mirror, takes on the role of Captain Everett Blakely. The Upcoming had the pleasure of chatting to Shields about how and why he came on board with the show, and what it took to portray an American airman in WWII’s 100^th Bomb Group. He detailed the emotional, psychological and physical challenges faced by the soldiers, the brotherhood among them, and the intensive preparation, including a boot camp, to authentically depict their experiences. Shields further reflected on the high production values, the camaraderie with the cast and his aspirations for future roles in comedy and working with acclaimed directors.

Sarah Bradbury
Image: Lee Malone

Masters of the Air is released on Apple TV+ on 26^th January 2024.

Watch the trailer for Masters of the Air here: