Fans praise Stephen Graham’s ‘tremendous’ transformation in new boxing drama

Stephen Graham has been receiving praise for an amazing physical transformation as he prepares for his role in the upcoming boxing drama series “A Thousand Blows”.

The drama, created by Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight, explores the underground boxing world in Victorian London during the 1880s. It features Malachi Kirby, known from “Small Axe,” portraying a boxer who encounters Graham’s character, Sugar Goodson, a formidable bare-knuckle fighter.

To get into character, the 51-year-old “This is England” star collaborated with a professional bodybuilder to enhance his physique. In preview images of the series, Graham appears topless in a boxing ring, showcasing his defined shoulders and muscular biceps.

Fans on social media have lauded the actor for his dedication. Some have even drawn comparisons between Graham’s new look and Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Bane in the Batman series. “A show by Steven Knight on Disney+ starring Stephen Graham looking like Bane Tom Hardy Jr?! Sign me up!” one enthusiast tweeted, while another remarked, “Stephen looking huge!”

One fan specifically applauded Graham’s hard work at the gym, commenting, “Looking fit sir!” Another suggested Graham should consider more roles in action movies and even proposed he take on a Marvel superhero role, with several advocating for him to be the next Wolverine.

“A Thousand Blows” follows Kirby’s character, Hezekiah Moscow, who gets entangled in the dangerous world of illegal boxing. He encounters Mary Carr, played by Erin Doherty from “The Crown,” the leader of an all-female gang, as they struggle for survival in the harsh streets.

Hezekiah’s path crosses with Graham’s Sugar Goodson, a skilled and ruthless boxer, leading to a long-standing rivalry that consumes both their lives.

Starting his rigorous training regimen in 2022, Graham shared videos of his intense workouts, which included cardio, weightlifting, and rope-pulling. His trainer captured a particularly grueling session of Graham doing pull-ups with a heavy chain draped around him.

Bodybuilder Rob Thurston praised Graham’s journey on Instagram, stating, “Putting in the graft! @stephengraham has made an incredible physical transformation, adding a ton of muscle mass and shedding body fat for his new role in a series by Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders.”

During a 2022 interview with The Independent, writer Chris Harvey noted Graham’s impressive new physique. Graham’s wife, actor Hannah Walters, humorously exclaimed, “He’s like Popeye. Just give him a can and he pops it and crushes it.”

At that time, “A Thousand Blows” was still in the pre-production phase, but Graham mentioned the crew was diligently working on constructing an elaborate set for filming. “I think we’ve got, like, 35 to 50 chippies on site, constructing the set,” he said. “Then you’ve got the scaffolders, all the people in the workshops, designing the sets and making them. Just to watch it come alive. We’re basically creating a world.”

“A Thousand Blows” is slated to premiere on Disney+ and Hulu in 2025.

Source: Independent