The mastermind behind the global phenomenon Peaky Blinders has detailed his ambitious vision for the next chapter of his latest hit series. Steven Knight, the acclaimed writer and creator, has shared exclusive insights into the highly anticipated second season of the Disney+ period drama, A Thousand Blows.
Disney's Bold Faith in Victorian Boxing Drama
Knight embarked on the project, which centres on the brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing in 1880s London, with hopes for a multi-series run. His aspirations were met with remarkable confidence from Disney+, which took the unusual step of commissioning a second season before the first had even aired. This act of faith, as Knight describes it, was vindicated as the show, inspired by real historical figures fighting for survival in London's East End, quickly found a devoted audience.
The ensemble cast features Stephen Graham as the notorious boxer Sugar Goodson, Malachi Kirby as Jamaican fighter Hezekiah Moscow, and Erin Doherty as Mary Carr, the leader of the all-female criminal gang, the Forty Elephants. Season two picks up the narrative one year after the explosive events of the first, finding the characters fragmented and transformed.
Pulling Characters Apart to Bring Them Back Together
Steven Knight, 66, reveals his core creative intention for this new season was to deconstruct his protagonists. "I wanted to detonate a bit of an explosion and pull everybody apart," the Birmingham-born writer explained. He emphasised that starting points are crucial, noting that after investing viewers in the characters' journeys in season one, the challenge was to radically shift their circumstances.
"A year has passed, and what a year it's been, because so much has changed," Knight said. He praised his cast, highlighting the dramatic transformation in Stephen Graham's character, Sugar, who is now alienated from his family and battling alcoholism. Meanwhile, Hezekiah is a shadow of his former self, grappling with grief after the loss of his friend Alec. Erin Doherty's Mary Carr makes a dramatic return to Wapping with her deputy Alice Diamond (Darci Shaw) to reclaim her criminal empire.
Despite the narrative time jump, both seasons were filmed consecutively, a production schedule Knight attributes to Disney's significant trust in the project from the outset.
Actors Embrace the Return to a Rich Historical World
For the cast, returning to their roles was a welcome opportunity to delve deeper into the fascinating historical reality that underpins the drama. Erin Doherty, 33, fresh from an Emmy win, expressed her rare reluctance to leave her character behind. "I genuinely wasn't prepared to release Mary midway through," the Sussex-born actress admitted, thrilled to continue developing the complex gang leader.
Doherty was captivated by the real-life story of the Forty Elephants, remarking on the skill of these historical criminals and her surprise that their tale hadn't been widely told before. Malachi Kirby, 36, echoed this sentiment of immersion, describing the filming experience as a huge adventure. For his character Hezekiah, the central struggle is "conquering his grief and his desire for revenge" and trying to find light again in a harsh environment.
Knight highlighted that the series' unique blend of the male-dominated boxing scene and the female-led criminal enterprise was intentional from the start. The concept emerged from producer Hannah Walters's discovery of a photograph of the real Hezekiah Moscow, sparking research into his incredible story. Knight was equally drawn to the parallel history of the Forty Elephants, seeing the dramatic potential in weaving these two remarkable true narratives together.
The second season of A Thousand Blows is set to premiere on Disney+ on Friday, 9 January.
