‘A Thousand Blows’: Creator Steven Knight Talks New Period Crime Drama, ‘Peaky Blinders,’ His ‘Star Wars’ Script, ‘Rogue Heroes’ & More [Bingeworthy Podcast]

Prolific writer/producer/director Steven Knight habitually turns historical grit into must-watch television. From the streets of 1920s Birmingham in “Peaky Blinders” to the daring real-life SAS soldiers of “Rogue Heroes,” Knight’s work thrives on characters who push against the limits of their status. His latest series, “A Thousand Blows,” is no different. Set in post-industrial revolution London, the show follows best friends Hezekiah and Alec as they get swept into the city’s brutal underground boxing scene while crossing paths with local legends and the notorious all-female gang, The Forty Elephants. The show stars Malachi Kirby, Erin Doherty, Stephen Graham, Jason Tobin, Francis Lovehall, and more.

When Knight sat down with Bingeworthy, the busy writer quickly admitted that he doesn’t watch much TV. “If anything, sometimes if I do watch stuff, I think, ‘Oh God, this is so good. Why can’t I just make it this simple?” he joked. That might explain why “A Thousand Blows” is anything but simple. Instead of focusing on one story, the show weaves multiple narratives—including Hezekiah’s rise in the ring, The Forty Elephants’ criminal empire, and a quiet, burning revenge arc with Jason Tobin’s Lao.

READ MORE: The 75 Most Anticipated TV Shows Of 2025

“I did quite like having a lot going on in a story. I think it’s great not to let people off the hook, to keep it going,” Knight said. He explained that he initially wanted to tell The Forty Elephants’ story on its own, but when “A Thousand Blows” star Stephen Graham brought him the idea of Hezekiah’s journey, he couldn’t resist mixing them together. “What would have happened if Hezekiah and Mary Carr had met? There’s no proof that they didn’t. So, therefore, we can go there.”

Knight is no stranger to writing characters who defy expectations and forge their own paths, but he insisted he doesn’t intentionally return to the same themes. “It’s always other people who tell you what you’re doing,” he admitted. “But I think I’m drawn to situations where smart people are born into a world where their smartness is not required. And so they must find other ways of achieving what they want.”

The Forty Elephants, in particular, fit that mold perfectly. “They’re not only breaking the law, they’re breaking the rules about what women are expected to do. It’s an even bigger transgression.”

READ MORE: ‘The Agency’: Jeffrey Wright & Katherine Waterston Discuss Their Espionage Drama, ‘Batman II,’ ‘Alien’ & More [Bingeworthy Podcast]

While researching the series, Knight combed through old newspapers and court records for real-life details. One discovery? The Forty Elephants once stormed Harrods in a coordinated theft, an event that made its way into the show. Another gem was the description of Mary Carr showing up to court in “extravagant black fur” and “towering ostrich feathers”—an image so bold Knight knew it had to be in the series. “If you can get that direct route to what really happened, it really helps.”

Of course, a show like “A Thousand Blows” wouldn’t work without a stellar cast. Malachi Kirby, Erin Doherty, and Stephen Graham anchor the series, with Jason Tobin delivering a powerful side story. Knight was thrilled to get his first choices for casting. “Erin is an absolute revelation,” he said, adding that the immersive set helped everyone step into character. “Disney built our world,” he explained, describing the massive 1880s London set constructed inside an old brewery. “As a writer, you can walk there, walk down the road, go into the pub, walk up the stairs, look out the window and see the lodging house exactly where it should be.”

And fans won’t have to wait long for more. Season 2 has already been shot, and while Knight couldn’t give a firm release date, he smiled and teased, “You won’t have to wait too long.”

Support independent movie journalism to keep it alive. Sign up for The Playlist Newsletter. All the content you want and, oh, right, it’s free.

Beyond “A Thousand Blows,” Knight remains busy. Season 2 of the underrated “Rogue Heroes” recently wrapped, culminating in a gripping D-Day finale with the SAS dropping behind enemy lines. Knight confirmed that the story won’t stop there. “We can’t leave it there,” he said, hinting that the show will continue to follow the real-life SAS through history.

Meanwhile, his highly anticipated “Peaky Blinders” movie has finished filming. “We wrapped on December 13th,” he revealed. “We’ve got Barry Keoghan, Tim Roth, Rebecca Ferguson, and obviously Cillian Murphy and Stephen Graham. And I have to say, it is mind-blowingly good.”

So why take “Peaky Blinders” to the big screen? For Knight, it was about giving fans a communal experience. “I really want the Peaky fans who have been a big part of this to be watching it all together in one building,” he said. “The communication has all been virtual, but I do want this to be in cinemas so that people can sit there together and watch this thing happen.”

He also reassured fans that this isn’t the end of “Peaky Blinders.” “This is a fitting end to the first chapter,” he teased, adding, “As long as there’s an appetite for it and I’ve got stories to tell, then why not?”

Knight also touched on his brief stint writing a “Star Wars” film, calling it a whirlwind experience. “Kathleen Kennedy’s a pleasure to work with,” he said. “And for me, it’s like a particular discipline in the world of writing and film. You enter the world, and you do your bit, and then I always knew the process then moves on. So I don’t know what of the stuff that I’ve submitted is going to end up in whatever the next incarnation of the thing is. It’s just great to be there and to be part of that. And it’s like stepping into a hurricane, in a way, because of the fans, because of what they want and what they feel. So you’re in this world, and you’re doing your bit. You enter it with reverence and do what you can, and then hope that you’ve done stuff that’s going to end up on that huge screen.”

But what’s next on his ever-growing slate? “House of Guinness” is in the can, a period drama Knight described as “‘The Crown’ with beer.” And beyond that? “There’s lots of other stuff coming up.”

“A Thousand Blows” is now available to stream on Hulu and Disney+. Listen to the entire conversation below:

Bingeworthy is part of The Playlist Podcast Network, which includes The Playlist Podcast, Deep Focus, The Discourse, and more. We can be heard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, and most places where podcasts are found. You can stream the podcast via the embed within the article or click on the lead image at the top page. Be sure to subscribe and drop us a comment or a rating, as we greatly appreciate it. Thank you for listening.

Mike DeAngelo

+ postsBio ⮌

Mike DeAngelo is a film writer, podcaster, and entertainment journalist whose work has appeared in Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, and beyond. He is the host of The Playlist's podcasts The Discourse and Bingeworthy.

This author does not have any more posts