The gritty, soot-stained streets of Victorian London are back. But honestly, if you were expecting the polished, polite ballrooms of Bridgerton, you’re looking at the wrong show. The first A Thousand Blows trailer dropped, and it feels like a punch to the gut—in the best way possible. It’s brutal. It’s sweaty. It’s loud. And it’s exactly what we’d expect from the mind of Steven Knight, the guy who gave us Peaky Blinders.
He’s clearly not done with the 19th-century underworld.
This time, though, the focus shifts from the Midlands to the chaotic East End of London in the 1880s. The teaser introduces us to Hezekiah Moscow, played by Malachi Kirby, and Alec Munroe, played by Stephen Graham. They aren't just characters; they feel like forces of nature. The footage is fast, cutting between the illegal "prizefighting" rings and the desperate, crowded alleyways of the era. You can almost smell the coal smoke and the stale ale through the screen. It’s a specific kind of historical storytelling that prioritizes "vibe" and visceral energy over dry, textbook accuracy, though Knight has always been obsessive about the feeling of the past.
What the A Thousand Blows trailer actually tells us
First off, the visual language is aggressive. Most trailers for historical dramas use sweeping orchestral scores and wide, scenic shots. Not this one. The A Thousand Blows trailer is rhythmic, driven by a heavy beat that mimics the thud of leather on bone. It centers on Hezekiah, an immigrant from Jamaica who finds himself thrust into the violent, high-stakes world of bare-knuckle boxing.
London in the 1880s was a melting pot, but a violent one.
We see glimpses of "The Forty Elephants." If you aren't a history nerd, that name might sound weird, but they were a very real, very notorious all-female crime syndicate. Erin Doherty, who people might remember as Princess Anne in The Crown, looks absolutely unrecognizable here as Mary Carr, the leader of this gang. Seeing her trade the royal pearls for a razor-sharp gaze and a position of power in the criminal underworld is a highlight of the footage. It suggests the show isn't just about men hitting each other; it’s about the power dynamics of a city that was rapidly changing and incredibly dangerous for anyone on the margins.
Stephen Graham’s presence is, as usual, magnetic. He plays Sugar Goodson, a seasoned, dangerous boxer who represents the old guard of the illegal fighting scene. The tension between him and Kirby’s character is the spine of the trailer. It’s not just a sports story. It’s a survival story.
The Steven Knight touch and the Peaky Blinders connection
People are naturally going to compare this to Tommy Shelby’s exploits. That’s unavoidable. But where Peaky Blinders felt like a Western set in Birmingham, A Thousand Blows feels more like a noir thriller set in a boxing ring. The lighting is high-contrast. The shadows are deep. Knight has a way of making the past feel contemporary without using cheap gimmicks.
📖 Related: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
He focuses on the "dispossessed."
The dialogue we hear in the trailer is sparse. It’s more about the physical performances. Malachi Kirby looks like he went through a grueling camp to get into "fighting shape," but it’s the look in his eyes—the desperation of a man who has nothing left to lose—that really sells it.
The production value looks massive. Disney+ and Hulu are backing this, and you can see the money on the screen. The sets for Victorian London look lived-in. They’re dirty. There’s mud everywhere. It’s a reminder that for most people living in 1880, life wasn't about tea parties; it was about trying to make it to the next morning.
Why the illegal boxing scene matters
In the late 1800s, boxing was in a weird legal gray area. "Prizefighting" was technically illegal, but it was massive. It was the underground gambling obsession of the era. The A Thousand Blows trailer leaned into this "forbidden" aspect. You see the crowds—men in top hats standing next to laborers, all screaming for blood.
It was a place where class lines blurred.
Hezekiah’s journey as a Black man in this space is a crucial layer. The show is exploring the Black British experience in the Victorian era, something that hasn't been given this kind of "prestige TV" treatment very often. It’s not just about the fights in the ring; it’s about the fight for dignity outside of it. The trailer hints at this without being heavy-handed, showing Hezekiah navigating a world that is inherently hostile to him.
Breaking down the cast and the "Forty Elephants"
Let’s talk about the women for a second. The Forty Elephants (or the Forty Thieves) were legendary. They were specialized shoplifters who used custom-made clothing with hidden pockets to loot London’s high-end stores.
👉 See also: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
- Erin Doherty as Mary Carr: She’s the brains. The trailer shows her commanding a room of men twice her size.
- The Power Shift: The show seems to be setting up a collision course between the boxing world and the thievery world.
- The Stakes: In this era, if you were caught, the penalties were life-altering. There was no "slap on the wrist."
The interplay between the physical violence of the men’s storyline and the calculated, strategic criminality of the women’s storyline makes this feel like a more complete portrait of the Victorian "underclass" than we usually get.
The technical side: Why it looks so different
The cinematography in the A Thousand Blows trailer uses a lot of close-ups. You see the sweat flying off a chin after a punch. You see the blood on the floorboards. It’s shot in a way that makes you feel claustrophobic. It’s intentional. It mirrors the feeling of being trapped in a life of poverty and having to literally punch your way out.
The sound design is also worth noting.
Every hit sounds heavy. It’s not the "movie punch" sound we’re used to; it’s a dull, sickening thud. This realism is what’s going to set the show apart from more stylized action series. It wants you to feel the stakes. If Hezekiah loses a fight, he doesn't just lose a trophy. He loses his livelihood. Maybe his life.
What we still don't know
While the trailer gives us a great sense of the atmosphere, it’s still a bit mysterious about the "inciting incident." What brings Hezekiah to London? What’s the specific grudge between him and Sugar Goodson? Knight is good at holding back his cards. He knows that the mystery is part of the draw.
There’s also the question of the wider world. We see glimpses of the docks and the industrial areas. This suggests the scope of the show will expand beyond just the boxing rings. It’s a story of a city in flux.
How to prepare for the premiere
If you’re hyped after watching the A Thousand Blows trailer, there are a few things you can do to get into the right headspace. First, look up the history of the Forty Elephants. It’s wilder than any fiction. They operated for decades, and their leader, Mary Carr, was a legitimate criminal mastermind.
✨ Don't miss: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
Second, check out some of Malachi Kirby’s previous work, like Small Axe or Roots. He’s a phenomenal actor who brings a lot of soul to his roles. Seeing his range will give you a better idea of what he’s bringing to Hezekiah.
Finally, keep an eye on the release date. It’s slated for 2025, and given the talent involved, it’s likely going to be a major awards contender.
Final takeaways for fans
This isn't just a "boxing show."
It’s a gritty, historical epic about power, race, and survival in a city that was the center of the world but treated its poorest citizens like garbage. The A Thousand Blows trailer promises a series that is unapologetic, violent, and deeply human.
To get the most out of the upcoming release, consider these steps:
- Research the real-life inspirations: Reading about the London prizefighting circuit of the 1880s provides massive context for the "rules" (or lack thereof) seen in the trailer.
- Follow the production updates: Steven Knight often shares insights into his writing process, which usually involves deep dives into specific historical "forgotten" subcultures.
- Watch with a high-quality sound system: Based on the trailer, the audio design—specifically the foley work of the fights—is going to be a massive part of the experience.
This show looks like it’s going to be a heavy hitter. Literally.