Still riding the success of one-shot, hard-hitting series Adolescence and boxing drama A Thousand Blows, Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters have inked a two-year deal with a streamer — but it's not Netflix.
The husband and wife duo behind Matriarch Productions have signed with Disney+ following the recent premiere of A Thousand Blows season 2 on the platform.
Walters and Graham are fresh off a Golden Globe swipe with Adolescence which their Matriarch co-produced alongside Plan B and Warp Films. The four-part series brought home the prize for Outstanding Limited Series, as well as acting awards for Graham, Erin Doherty and 16-year-old protagonist Owen Cooper.
While some thought that a deal with Netflix, which distributed Adolescence, could be next for Matriarch, the production company is now in a two-year partnership with Disney+. The agreement with the House of Mouse's streaming platform spans both original scripted and unscripted series (via Variety).
"We are beyond thrilled to be working with Disney+ and through this creative partnership will strive to produce inspiring, entertaining and thought-provoking storytelling," Graham and Walters said.
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Launched in 2020, Matriarch produced 2021's one-take kitchen thriller Boiling Point and a spin-off series in 2023, the moving onto Adolescence and A Thousand Blows, with the latter being created by Steven Knight.
The company has made of inclusion one of its cornerstones in front and behind the camera, striving to create opportunities for aspiring film industry professionals from underrepresented backgrounds.
"Stephen and Hannah have proven they know how to tell bold, impactful stories and our vision also aligns with them around providing a platform for underrepresented voices in the UK," said Angela Jain, head of content, Disney+ EMEA.
"Distinctive, local stories that entertain and resonate with audiences are what Disney+ are committed to championing, making Matriarch the perfect partners as we look to evolve our production slate in the UK. This is a dream and we're thrilled to continue working with them."
Added Lee Mason, VP, Scripted, Disney+ EMEA: "Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters are storytellers with real purpose — creative, fearless, and deeply committed to discovering, nurturing, and championing new talent. I'm genuinely excited to keep working with them, and to support the kind of ambitious, distinctive work they want to put into the world with Disney+."
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
