Netflix made another move in the content game today, locking down exclusive U.S. rights to the popular British crime drama Peaky Blinders. The entire six-hour first season of the period series will premiere on the streaming powerhouse September 30, while the second season is slated for arrival in November.
Set in Birmingham, England in 1919, the factually-inspired drama follows the Shelby family, leaders of the violent Peaky Blinders gang, whose members were notorious for sewing razor blades in their hats. Operating on the lower end of the totem pole, the tables turn as the gang uncovers a crate of guns, thrusting them into a new position of power in the British underworld that soon finds them head-to-head against “rival gangs, communist revolutionaries, and IRA Fenians,” all of which hold claim to the weapons stash.
While U.S. viewers may not be familiar with the U.K. series, it has received critical acclaim in its home country, where a third season is expected to be greenlit soon on the BBC Two. The series stars some familiar faces, including Cillian Murphy, of Inception and Dark Knight trilogy fame, as well as Sam Neill, famous for his roles in movies like Jurassic Park, and The Hunt for Red October.
“Peaky Blinders captivated audiences in the U.K. with its compelling story lines, powerful performances and stunningly beautiful imagery,” said Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos.
U.S. audiences looking for one more way to entrench themselves in a gritty period piece can give the entire first season an audition starting midnight next Tuesday.
