Stephen Graham is gearing up to captivate audiences in the upcoming Disney+ crime drama, A Thousand Blows. Set against the gritty backdrop of 1880s East End London, the show delves into the lives of two Jamaican best friends enveloped in the city's merciless bare-knuckle boxing scene. The story, inspired by real-life accounts, centres around Hezekiah Moscow (played by Malachi Kirby) and Alec Munroe (portrayed by Francis Lovehall) as they spiral into the criminal depths of London's fight circles.
With his boxing prowess, Hezekiah catches the eye of the notorious Queen of the Forty Elephants gang, Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), who manipulates his talents for her own illicit gains. Meanwhile, Stephen Graham's character Sugar Goodson, dubbed the unofficial ruler of the East End's boxing scene, schemes to thwart Hezekiah's dreams of competing in the prestigious West End, jeopardizing all he has achieved.
Despite Sugar's fearsome reputation, Mary Carr appears to evoke a different facet of his persona. Reflecting on what she draws out in Sugar that others cannot, Stephen Graham revealed an intriguing dynamic of yearning between the characters, reports the Liverpool Echo. Praising both the roles and Erin Doherty's performance, he remarked: "Sugar's story with Mary is really interesting. She brings out a completely different side to Sugar that nobody else really gets to see.
"She gets to see his vulnerability because he feels he can let his guard down with her. There's a longing, there's a deep sense of love between them, a deep connection. He has great respect for her. "Erin and I created a backstory just for us to have in the back of our minds when playing these two characters. I love Erin, she's wonderful to work with.". Stephen shared more about his character Sugar, who owns and operates the Blue Coat Boy pub, home to the last standing bare-knuckle boxing ring. The actor was drawn to the role due to Sugar's intricate personality.
Stephen elaborated: "His view on life gives the character realism, which is ultimately what attracts me to the roles I play. Sugar's complexities stem from overcoming a mass trauma as a child.". "He's had to fight to get where he is and overcome adversity in order to carve his world out in the East End of London. He's had to fight to get where he is, and he doesn't want to lose it.". Disney+ audiences are introduced to Sugar at the peak of his boxing empire, with Stephen describing him as 'king of his own kingdom'. As a guardian of the pub and the community he's built with his brother, Sugar commands both fear and respect.
Stephen added: "He's as honest as the day is long, sometimes to a fault. Sure, he does a few little deals here and there on the side, but he's ultimately a survivor. He's very proud of the roots he has made in Wapping. "Sugar is very protective of his status as a fearsome opponent in the boxing ring. He sees bare-knuckle boxing as a working man's sport. It's honourable and for it to be honourable you fight with fists, you don't wear gloves.".
"He's fearful of the gentrification of the sport that he knows and loves. In Sugar's mind, the noble art of boxing is being bastardised by the hoi polloi out West. He's got old-fashioned values tied up in the sport. I loved playing him.". A Thousand Blows will premiere on Disney+ on February 21, 2025. Obsessed with Netflix? Get the latest headlines, releases and insider-gossip direct to your inbox with our Binge-worthy newsletter.
