Deadline is exclusively reporting that Malachi Kirby is the latest name to join the cast for the Disney+ period drama series A Thousand Blows, based on a true story set around the world of illegal boxing in 1880s Victorian London.

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Based on real-life figures and stories, the series will follow Hezekiah Moscow and Alec Munroe, two best friends from Jamaica who find themselves thrust into the vibrant and violent melting pot of post-industrial revolution London’s East End. Drawn into the criminal underbelly of the thriving boxing scene, Hezekiah meets Mary Carr, leader of The Forty Elephants – the notorious all-female London gang – as they battle for survival on the streets. As Hezekiah sharpens his new skills, he comes up against Sugar Goodson, a seasoned and dangerous boxer, and the two are soon locked into an intense rivalry that spills out way beyond the ring.

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The report states that Malachi Kirby (whose credits include Small Axe: Mangrove and Boiling Point) will be playing the role of Hezekiah Moscow. He will star alongside Stephen Graham, who is playing the role of Sugar Goodson. The casting for Alec Munroe is yet to be revealed.

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The series, a Disney+ UK original, is created, written, and executive produced by Steven Knight, with Stephen Graham serving as producer under his banner Matriarch Productions. A Thousand Blows will consist of six episodes (it was initially reported as twelve when the series was in development), and will premiere on Disney+ globally, wile in Latin America it will be available via Star+ and on Hulu in the US.