‘The Crown’ star joins ‘Peaky Blinders’ writer’s new Victorian London series
More lead cast have been announced for Disney+ and Hulu’s A Thousand Blows.
Set in the perilous world of illegal boxing in 1880s London, the upcoming British period drama is the latest TV project from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
It was previously announced that Line of Duty star Stephen Graham will be playing veteran boxer Sugar Goodson in the 12-part series.
The 49-year-old English actor worked with writer Steven Knight before in Peaky Blinders‘ final season, and he’s also been in The North Water, This is England, Taboo, and White House Farm.
Graham previously spoke of “the privilege of bringing the role of Sugar Goodson to life,” adding: “To tell the story of these incredible characters during this period of time in London is a joy.”
With filming underway on A Thousand Blows in the UK right now, we’ve got some more details about who else is in the show!
The Crown actress Erin Doherty will be playing Mary Carr, leader of a notorious all-female London gang called The Forty Elephants.
Doherty played Princess Anne in the third and fourth season of Netflix’s royal drama.
She’ll appear alongside Malachi Kirby, who you may recognise from Small Axe and Black Mirror.
Kirby plays Hezekiah Moscow, one of two friends from Jamaica who find themselves thrust into the vibrant and violent melting pot of post-industrial revolution London’s East End.
Francis Lovehall is playing Hezekiah’s best friend Alec.
The pair must battle for survival on the streets as they’re drawn into the thriving boxing scene’s criminal underbelly.
“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,” the official synopsis tells us.
The cast also includes Jason Tobin as Mr Lao, and James Nelson-Joyce as Edward “Treacle” Goodson.
Playing the Forty Elephants gang are Hannah Walters as Eliza Moody, Nadia Albina as Verity Ross, Morgan Hilaire as Esme Long, Jemma Carlton as Belle Downer, and Caoilfhionn Dunne as Anne Glover.
A Thousand Blows is set to premiere in late 2023 or 2024 on Hulu in the US
It’ll be streaming on Star+ in Latin America, and on Disney+ in the UK and internationally.
The final season of The Crown is currently filming ahead of its arrival on Netflix this winter.
Peaky Blinders is available on DVD.