Having made some of the most unmissable TV of the last decade with the likes of Birmingham mob drama Peaky Blinders and high concept Apple TV sci-fi series See, Steven Knight is gearing up to deliver another knockout (in many ways quite literally) with new Disney+ joint A Thousand Blows. Set amidst the dangerous world of illegal boxing in 1880s Victorian London, writer-creator Knight's new show — which has shot its first two six-episode series back-to-back, with the first due to land in 2025 — boasts a powerhouse cast, with Malachi Kirby (Small Axe), Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire, Boiling Point), and Erin Doherty (The Crown) leading a real heavyweight ensemble.
Per the show's official synopsis, A Thousand Blows centres around BAFTA award-winner Kirby's Hezekiah Moscow, who finds himself plunged into "the vibrant and violent melting pot of post-industrial revolution London's East End from Jamaica." The rest of the plot description reads as follows: "Drawn into the criminal underbelly of the thriving boxing scene, [Hezekiah] meets Mary Carr, played by Erin Doherty, leader of The Forty Elephants — the notorious all-female London gang — as they battle for survival on the streets. As Hezekiah sharpens his new skills, he comes up against Sugar Goodson, played by Stephen Graham, a seasoned and dangerous boxer, and the two are soon locked into an intense rivalry that spills out way beyond the ring." And you can see Hezekiah, Mary, and Sugar in action in Empire's exclusive first look photos from the show below:
"The love and care that went into this thrilling production is evident on screen from the first moment," said creator Knight in a statement accompanying A Thousand Blow's first look images. "What makes the story we tell all the more compelling is that it is based on the lives of real people who lived extraordinary lives in extraordinary times.” And to tell the story of these extraordinary lives and times, Knight has assembled quite the team. Emerging voices among the series' credited writers include Criminal Record scribe Ameir Brown, Insook Chappell, Harlan Davies, and Yasmin Joseph, whilst Tinge Krishnan, Nick Murphy, Ashley Walters, and Coky Giedroyc all serve as directors on the show.
We don't have a set release date for A Thousand Blows just yet, but with 12 rounds of Victorian London boxing already in the can, suffice it to say we'll be tuning in when Knight and co are ready to deliver their new TV haymaker. Let's get ready to rumble!