The Wargame uses AI-generated footage to simulate Russian missile attacks on UK soil in shocking new Sky TV documentary series — 'this is not real, but it could be'

For years, major governments around the world have routinely conducted wargames and simulation exercises to test their military readiness, crisis response, and supply chain resilience.

For the first time ever, we're about to watch one.

Based on its hit 2025 podcast of the same name, Sky TV has developed four-part docuseries The Wargame , exploring how a fictitious UK cabinet — made up of former MPs from multiple parties — could responded to completely made-up threats, and an eventual attack, from Russia.

Here's how it works.

Our cabinet (listed below) will face an escalating simulated crisis, beginning with the suspicious murders of two RAF soldiers.

While the Russian side, and any international players, are being given instructions by producers, every decision we see from the UK side is being made in the moment.

With four episodes dropping nightly on both Sky and NOW from September 21, I won't sugarcoat it: The Wargame is an absolutely terrifying watch.

If you've ever seen anything like Threads , When the Wind Blows or the BBC 1966 film The Wargame , it's the same sense of impending dread... just from the other side of the table.

But don't get me wrong — this might just be the most important piece of television of the 21st century.

As the UK's War Book is being redrafted in real time to advise the public on how best to be prepared, consider that Sky TV is granting us an important head start We can no longer bury our heads in the sand over just how unprepared the UK is, and AI is one of the main reasons we'll be able to realize this.

The Wargame is the most important TV show you'll stream in your lifetime — just be prepared Before we drill deeper into what we're watching, here's our full list of players and their assigned roles: ● Prime Minister: The Rt Hon. the Lord Gove PC ● Deputy Prime Minister: The Rt Hon.

Nicola Sturgeon PC ● Defence Secretary: The Rt Hon.

Dame Penny Mordaunt DBE PC ● Home Secretary: The Rt Hon. the Baroness Harman KC PC ● Foreign Secretary: The Rt Hon.

Jim Murphy PC ● Attorney General: The Rt Hon. the Baroness Warsi PC ● Director of Communications: The Baroness Hazarika MBE ● Chief of Defence Staff: General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE ● National Security Adviser: The Rt Hon. the Lord Kim Darroch KCMG ● Intelligence Chief: Christopher Steele ● Nato Secretary General: The Rt Hon. the Lord Robertson KT GCMG PC ● US Secretary of State: Anthony Scaramucci As you can see from the above trailer, Sky has been incredibly upfront about its use of generative AI visual effects to create scenes showcasing Russian missiles hitting numerous UK targets.