Movies

The unbelievable true story that inspired Steven Knight’s A Thousand Blows

BBG News

Steven Knight’s brand new Disney+ show, titled “A Thousand Blows“, is based on actual events that took place in the East End of London during the 1880s. This series draws inspiration from real-life stories of individuals from that era.

On the show, Malachi Kirby portrays one of the main characters, Hezekiah Moscow, who is modeled after a real individual.

In a chat with Digital Spy prior to the show’s premiere, the BAFTA-winning actor shared insights about his preparation for the character and the details we know so far.

Before the release of the series, the BAFTA-winning star talked to Digital Spy about the steps he took to embody the role and what has been disclosed about him.

Kirby mentioned that the character is modeled after a genuine individual. This person, named Hezekiah Moscow, hailed from Jamaica and initially intended to be a lion tamer in London. However, fate had other plans for him, and he unexpectedly transitioned into boxing instead.

He went on to say, “However, I could never truly grasp who he really was as an individual. There were details about his life experiences and occurrences, but not about his personality, his demeanor, or his unique traits. That’s where creativity took over.

Regarding the basis for his portrayal, Kirby stated, “There are two photos, one especially, featuring this individual.

One image depicts him bare-chested, striking a boxer-like pose, while another shows him elegantly dressed, exuding an air of royalty. Both photographs date back to the 1800s, a period where images of Black men are not common and typically portray them in subservient roles.

Simply looking at it, I found myself wondering, “Who is this intriguing individual that others deemed worthy of having their picture taken?

Instead, I immersed myself deeply into analyzing the images, aiming to understand the individual’s character and spirit. I tried to internalize these qualities in my own being.

In addition to the main cast, Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty play pivotal roles. Specifically, Graham portrays boxer Sugar Goodson, while Doherty embodies Mary Carr, the head of the Forty Elephants gang.

A Thousand Blows is now streaming on Disney+.

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2025-02-21 19:49

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