According to Deadline The official trailer for A Thousand Blows, Disney+ and Hulu’s upcoming bare-knuckle boxing drama, has dropped online, offering a glimpse into the brutal world of 1880s East London. The series, premiering on February 21, follows Malachi Kirby (Small Axe, Roots) who plays Hezekiah Moscow and Francis Lovehall (Industry, Gangs of London) who plays Alec Munroe, these two best friends from Jamaica thrust into the brutal world of illegal boxing. As Graham’s character, Sugar Goodson, ominously declares, “You learn to fight, no matter where you’re from.”
Set against the gritty backdrop of East London’s criminal underworld, A Thousand Blows sees Hezekiah becoming the target of the infamous Erin Doherty (The Crown, Les Misérables) who plays Mary Carr . She exploits his boxing talent to further her criminal empire, while Sugar, the self-declared ruler of the East End boxing scene, plots to eliminate his new rival. As Sugar warns Mary, “I want him off my patch,” tensions boil over in a brutal showdown. As Sugar warns Mary, “I want him off my patch,” tensions boil over in a brutal showdown. “Watch me kill him,” Sugar says in the trailer, with Mary replying, “Can’t happen. I need him for something. Plans are forming” says an article via Deadline.
The stakes are high as Hezekiah becomes the pawn in a larger struggle for power, with rival forces scheming for control. Once seeing the show some viewers may describe it as A Gritty Power Struggle.
“You can be the next champion,” Sugar tells Hezekiah, while Mary counters, “I need him for something. Plans are forming.” With fists flying and rivalries escalating, the music of Aitch and ArrDee’s ‘War’ underscores the intensity of the battle, signaling that the fight for dominance is far from over.
The six-part drama, created, written, and executive-produced by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders , SAS Rogue Heroes), dives deep into themes of ambition, loyalty, and betrayal. The series is brought to life by Matriarch Productions, The Story Collective, and Water & Power Productions, with Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire, Time) and Hannah Walter (Boiling Point) among the executive producers. Additional executive producers include Damian Keogh, Kate Lewis, Tom Miller, Sameer, David Olusoga, and Lee Mason which was also in a article via Deadline.
Alongside Knight’s leadership, A Thousand Blows boasts an impressive creative team, including writers Ameir Brown, Insook Chappell, Harlan Davies, and Yasmin Joseph. The directing team, featuring Tinge Krishnan, Nick Murphy, Ashley Walters, and Coky Giedroyc, also serves as executive producers, further solidifying the show’s strong creative foundation.
With its star-studded cast, gritty setting, and powerhouse creative team, A Thousand Blows is shaping up to be a must-watch series that dives deep into the cutthroat world of underground boxing. Audiences can look forward to a thrilling mix of action, betrayal, and heart-pounding drama when the series debuts on February 21.