Peaky Blinderscreator Steven Knight is working on a newDisney Plusoriginal series titledA Thousand Blows. Set during the Victorian Era, The 12-part historical drama follows the underground illegal boxing scene in East London.
The new series fromDisney Plusfollows two best friends from Jamaica, who after arriving in London fight for survival in the violent melting pot of Victorian London’s East End. In doing so, they go up againsta dangerous veteran boxernamed Sugar Goodson, played by UK actor Stephen Graham. Knight will serve as creator and lead writer, with episodes also written by Ameir Brown, Insook Chappell, Harlan Davies, and Yasmin Joseph. Graham will star and executive produce alongside Hannah Walters and Award-winning broadcaster and historian Professor David Olusoga.A Thousand Blowswill premiere on Disne Plus internationally and on Hulu in the US.
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“I’m really thrilled to be working on this project with Stephen as well as the very talented production team and group of writers,” said Knight in a statement. “I always love to delve into untold history, and this is a story that really deserves to be told.” Knight is an accomplished TV and film writer, whose feature credits include the David Cronenberg Russian Gangster filmEastern Promisesandthe Tom Hardy vehicleLocke.He is perhaps best known for creatingPeaky Blinders, which follows a crime family in early 20th century Birmingham. The series recently concluded its sixth and final season, but a feature film penned by Knight is currently in the works.
“To be able to work with Steve again and the talented team of writers we have for this project is truly wonderful,” said Graham, “To tell the story of these incredible characters during this period of time in London is a joy." Graham recently appeared on the sixth andfinal season ofPeaky Blinders,where he played fearless union rep Hayden Stagg. Graham is best known for his breakout role as a violent skinhead in the 2006 filmThis Is Englandalong with its television sequels.
His other feature film credits includedirector Guy Ritchie’scrime comedy,Snatch,and Martin Scorsese’s historical epic,Gangs Of New York. He is also known for his television credits, which include the HBO prohibition dramaBoardwalk Empire,where he played legendary gangster Al Capone, and the BBC police dramaLine Of Duty.
