Stephen Graham Stars in First Look at ‘A Thousand Blows’ Season 2

The gloves are officially off (again) in the first teaser trailer for A Thousand Blows Season 2, as Stephen Graham prepares to return to the ring. The new season of Steven Knight’s critically acclaimed historical boxing drama will premiere on Hulu and Disney+ on Jan. 9, 2026, and judging by the show’s first look footage, the upcoming six-part run will pack a serious punch. Picking up one year after the events of the dramatic first season finale, the sophomore outing finds the main characters in significantly different circumstances, particularly Henry “Sugar” Goodson, who has now hit the bottle, as per the official synopsis, which reads:

“Inspired by the true-life stories of a group of characters battling for survival in the brutal East End of London in the 1880s. One year later, Hezekiah’s (Malachi Kirby) a shadow of the man he once was whilst Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham) is estranged from his family and drinking himself to death. Just as Wapping is about to sigh its last breath, Mary Carr (Erin Doherty) bursts back into town with her loyal second, Alice Diamond (Darci Shaw), to reassemble her gang and reclaim her crown. As always, Mary has a plan; one which will involve all those she holds dearest. And this time it’s riskier than ever.”

The trailer for the second season of A Thousand Blows teases a story of revenge, scheming, and redemption, with all the main players from the first season back for round two, including Malachi Kirby as Hezekiah Moscow and Erin Doherty as Mary Carr. Graham’s bare-knuckle boxing champ addresses the duo, saying: “You’re probably wondering why I’ve gathered you all here. I understand that some of you wish me dead. And I don’t blame you. We’re in danger, and we can’t afford to doubt each other.” However, it might be tougher than he anticipated to get everyone on side, as Hezekiah asserts: “You fight your way, and I’ll fight mine.”

Other returning cast members for Season 2 include James Nelson-Joyce as Edward “Treacle” Goodson, Darci Shaw as Alice Diamond, Hannah Walters as Eliza Moody, Nadia Albina as Verity Ross, Morgan Hilaire as Esme Long, Jemma Carlton as Belle Downer, Caoilfhionn Dunne as Anne Glover, Jason Tobin as Mr. Lao, Susan Lynch as Jane Carr, Daniel Mays as William “Punch” Lewis, Gary Lewis as Jack Mac, Aliyah Odoffin as Victoria Davies, and Robert Glenister as Indigo Jeremy, while Peaky Blinders‘ Ned Dennehy and Slow Horses‘ Catherine McCormack have joined the ensemble as Bull Jeremy and Sophie Lyons, respectively.

The First Season of ‘A Thousand Blows’ Was a Knockout Success

A Thousand Blows hails from the creator of the multi-award-winning, six-season gangster saga Peaky Blinders, which raised expectations for his latest TV effort. The first season debuted on Hulu and Disney+ in February, and it became an instant knockout success, earning critical acclaim for its compelling story, historical setting, and strong performances by its lead actors. The show holds an 88% critics’ score and a 77% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, setting a solid foundation to continue the story for a second run of episodes. MovieWeb‘s own Julian Roman called it a “stunning period series” in his review:

“A Thousand Blows rivets as a banner ensemble explores racism, sexism, classism, and bone-crushing violence in 1880s East London. The venerable Steven Knight delivers a knockout blow with another stunning period series.”

Knight previously pointed out one of the major differentiations between Peaky Blinders and A Thousand Blows, which allowed him to create something even bigger. The second season was filmed back-to-back with the first season after being renewed early on in the development process, signaling confidence in the show’s future. The six-episode second season will debut on Jan. 9, 2026 – nearly a year after the original run. There is no word yet on whether the series will receive a third season, but it will likely depend on the performance and reception of the forthcoming chapter, as Knight has already expressed a desire to keep the story going.