Disney Plus' new crime drama A Thousand Blows looks like it'll fill the Peaky Blinders-shaped hole in my life, and there's one big reason why

Mary Carr hangs off some ropes of a boxing ring in Disney's A Thousand Blows TV series
Erin Doherty is one of A Thousand Blows' three main stars (Image credit: Disney Plus)

Have you been struggling to fill the Peaky Blinders-shaped hole in your life since the wildly popular crime drama series ended? A forthcoming Disney Plus show might end your long search for a worthy successor.

A Thousand Blows, an epic Victorian era-set TV series that'll star Malachi Kirby, Stephen Graham, and Erin Doherty, looks and sounds like it could replace Thomas Shelby and company as your go-to source for turn-of-the-century crime-based storytelling. Well, until the Peaky Blinders movie makes its debut on Netflix, whenever that is.

Anyway, A Thousand Blows is not only in very capable creative hands, but it's also perfectly positioned to tide you and I over until the aforementioned Cillian Murphy-starring crime film is ready to be released. How so? Because Steven Knight, Peaky Blinders' creator, is also the visionary behind A Thousand Blows' development. Hey, I did tell you it's in very capable hands.

A close up of Hezekiah wearing a dusty yellow coat in A Thousand Blows on Disney Plus

BAFTA winner Malachi Kirby stars a Hezekiah in A Thousand Blows (Image credit: Disney Plus)

Okay, so what's A Thousand Blows about? In short: illegal boxing in the 1880s. Oh, you wanted a more in-depth glimpse into its story? Alright, here you go: "BAFTA award-winning actor Kirby [stars] as Hezekiah Moscow, who finds himself thrust into the vibrant and violent melting pot of post-industrial revolution London’s East End from Jamaica. 

"Drawn into the criminal underbelly of the thriving boxing scene, he meets Mary Carr (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 (Graham), a seasoned and dangerous boxer, and the two are soon locked into an intense rivalry that spills out way beyond the ring."

Teasing more of what viewers can expect, Knight said in a statement: “The love and care that went into this thrilling production is evident on screen from the first moment. 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.”

A shot of Sugar Goodison walking in a gym in A Thousand Blows on Disney Plus and Hulu

Stephen Graham has certainly packed on the muscle to play Sugar in A Thousand Blows (Image credit: Disney Plus)

Joining the series' lead trio on its stacked roster are Francis Lovehall as Hezekiah’s best friend Alec Munroe, Jason Tobin will play Mr Lao, and James Nelson-Joyce is on board Edward 'Treacle' Goodson.

On The Forty Elephants front, Hannah Walters is portraying Eliza Moody, Darci Shaw will play Alice Diamond, Nadia Albina has been hired to portray Verity Ross, Morgan Hilaire is Esme Long, Jemma Carlton was cast as Belle Downer, and Caoilfhionn Dunne rounds out this part of the ensemble as Anne Glover.

Lastly, Susan Lynch portrays Jane Carr, Daniel Mays is involved as William ‘Punch’ Lewis, Adam Nagaitis plays the Earl of Lonsdale, Gary Lewis is part of proceedings as Jack Mac, Tom Davis will tackel the role of Charlie Mitchell, and Robert Glenister will portray Indigo Jeremy.

A Thousand Blows will make its Disney Plus debut (internationally) and sister streamer Hulu (US) when its first season arrives sometime in 2025. It'll comprise six 60-minute long episodes, too. And yes, when I say "first season", I mean it, because a second chapter – filmed back to back with its forebear – has already wrapped production. If Knight's work on Peaky Blinders is any indication, I'd be amazed if A Thousand Blows doesn't quickly cement a place for itself on our best Disney Plus shows and best Hulu shows lists.

You might also like

Senior Entertainment Reporter

As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.

Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across. Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.

Read more
Stephen Graham in A Thousand Blows
Hulu drops full trailer for A Thousand Blows and Stephen Graham's performance already has me hooked
Daniel Mays wearing a bowler hat in a boxing ring with his arms outstretched
‘Fact is more interesting than fiction’: What inspired Steven Knight to make the new Disney+ historical drama A Thousand Blows
A woman wearing a Victorian dress leans on the ropes of a boxing ring
I went to the set of Disney+'s A Thousand Blows series and this epic new drama has revived Victorian East End London
Malachi Kirby with his shirt off leaning against the ropes of a boxing ring
Black Mirror star looks unrecognizable in new images for gritty Hulu show A Thousand Blows
People crowd a boxing ring wearing victorian dress
From Peaky Blinders to Rocky, the movies and shows that the cast of A Thousand Blows watched ahead of the new Disney+ drama’s release
Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders season 6
‘The world of Peaky will continue’: Steven Knight confirms the hit Netflix drama Peaky Blinders won't end after its highly-anticipated movie
Latest in Disney Plus
Mufasa is joined by another lion, a monkey and a bird in this promotional image
Mufasa: The Lion King prowls onto Disney+ as it finally gets a streaming release date
A costumed Matt Murdock smiles at someone off-camera in Netflix's Daredevil TV show
Daredevil: Born Again is Disney+'s biggest series of 2025 so far, but another Marvel TV show has performed even better
Matt Murdock holding a phone to his right ear in a prison in Daredevil: Born Again episode 2
What time is Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 going to be released on Disney+?
A TV with the Disney Plus and Hulu logos displayed next to the words 'don't miss'
The Disney+ and Hulu bundle is back down to its awesome Black Friday price – perfect timing for Daredevil: Born Again and Moana 2
Imperial droid holds Cassian Andor up against a wall.
Andor is the best Star Wars TV show on Disney+ and leaves Rebels, Clone Wars and Skeleton Crew eating space dust
A collage image of Foggy Nelson sitting at a table and a close-up of Muse in Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again viewers have two wild fan theories about Foggy Nelson and Muse after the Marvel TV show's debut, but I think there's only one that might be right
Latest in News
Vision Pro Metallica
Apple Vision Pro goes off to never never land with Metallica concert footage
Mufasa is joined by another lion, a monkey and a bird in this promotional image
Mufasa: The Lion King prowls onto Disney+ as it finally gets a streaming release date
An American flag flying outside the US Capitol building against a blue sky
Sean Plankey selected as CISA director by President Trump
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 on a table with its retail packaging
Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU spotted in Acer gaming PC, suggesting rumors of imminent launch are correct – and that it’ll run with only 8GB of video RAM
Indiana Jones talking to a friend in a university setting with a jaunty smile on his face
New leak claims Indiana Jones and the Great Circle PS5 release will come in April
A close up of the limited edition vinyl turntable wrist watch from AndoAndoAndo
This limited-edition timepiece turns the iconic Technics SL-1200 turntable into a watch, and I want one