A Thousand Blows - Stephen Graham as Sugar Goodson

A Thousand Blows – first look images from Steven Knight’s new show

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Set in the perilous world of illegal boxing in 1880s Victorian London, A Thousand Blows stars Stephen Graham, Erin Docherty and Malachi Kirby. 

Disney+ have released the first official images for the upcoming A Thousand Blows.

The show, created by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight, takes place in the 1880s in the world of illegal boxing.

The pictures offer a first look at Malachi Kirby (Small Axe) as Hezekiah Moscow, who finds himself thrust into the vibrant and violent melting pot of post-industrial revolution London’s East End from Jamaica.

A Thousand Blows - Malachi Kirby as Hezekiah Moscow
Malachi Kirby as Hezekiah Moscow (c) Disney+

Drawn into the criminal underbelly of the thriving boxing scene, he meets Mary Carr, played by Erin Doherty (The Crown), leader of The Forty Elephants – the notorious all-female London gang – as they battle for survival on the streets.

A Thousand Blows - Erin Doherty as Mary Carr
Erin Doherty as Mary Carr (c) Disney+

As Hezekiah sharpens his new skills, he comes up against Sugar Goodson, played by Stephen Graham (Boiling Point), a seasoned and dangerous boxer and the two are soon locked into an intense rivalry that spills out way beyond the ring.

A Thousand Blows - Stephen Graham as Sugar Goodson
Stephen Graham as Sugar Goodson (c) Disney+

The wider ensemble cast includes Francis Lovehall, Jason Tobin and James Nelson-Joyce. Plus, Hannah Walters, Darci Shaw, Nadia Albina, Morgan Hilaire, Jemma Carlton and Caoilfhionn Dunne.

We can also expect appearances from familiar faces including Robert Glenister and Daniel Mays.

A Thousand Blows

The show comes from The Story Collective in a co-production with Matriarch Productions and Water & Power Productions.

Steven Knight leads a writing team which also includes Ameir Brown, Insook Chappell, Harlan Davies and Yasmin Joseph. The series directors are Tinge Krishnan and Nick Murphy, as well as Ashley Walters and Coky Giedroyc.

A Thousand Blows is created, written and executive produced by Steven Knight. Starring and executive produced by Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters for Matriarch Productions, Damian Keogh and Kate Lewis for The Story Collective, and Tom Miller and Sam Myer for Water & Power Productions.

The first series runs to six hour-long episodes, with production already complete on a second series.

We’ll keep you posted on A Thousand Blows – Series 1 comes to Disney+ in 2025.