Disney+ has signed a first-look deal outside the UK with Matriarch Productions, the production company behind Adolescence and A Thousand Blows, founded by award-winning husband-and-wife actor-producer duo Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters.
The two-year deal spans both original scripted and unscripted series and comes on the heels of the recent premiere of the second season of boxing period drama A Thousand Blow on Disney+. The Hulu original series is produced by Matriarch in conjunction with The Story Collective and Water & Power Productions.
“We are extremely excited to be working with Disney+ and look forward to creating moving, entertaining and thought-provoking storytelling through this creative partnership,” said Graham and Walters.
Matriarch only started operations in 2020, but has already built an impressive track record. He received a BAFTA nomination for the one-shot kitchen thriller Boiling Point in 2022, a Boiling Point spin-off series aired on the BBC in 2023, and produced the critically acclaimed first season of A Thousand Blows, which started in early 2025 and was written by Steven Knight.
“Adolescent” followed, taking the one-off concept from “Boiling Point” to new heights and continuing to rise. The groundbreaking Netflix series, produced by Matriarch in collaboration with Warp Films and based on Graham’s concept, became an instant cultural moment upon its release in March 2025 and has dominated every awards season since. Among its many accolades are eight Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series or Anthology Series, and four recent Golden Globe Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series.
Alongside its success in film, Matriarch has continued to emphasize one of its key principles, promoting diversity, inclusion and increasing opportunity, helping to support those who would otherwise struggle to break into the industry.
“Stephen and Hannah have proven they know how to tell bold, impactful stories, and our vision of giving a platform to underrepresented voices in the UK aligns with theirs,” said Angela Jayne, Head of Content, Disney+ EMEA. “Distinct local stories that entertain and resonate with audiences are what Disney+ is committed to championing, making Matriarch the perfect partner as we look to evolve our UK production plans. This is a dream and we are thrilled to continue working with them.”
Lee Mason, vice president of scripting for Disney+ EMEA, added: “Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters are storytellers with a true purpose, creative and fearless, and deeply committed to discovering, nurturing and championing new talent. I’m really excited to continue working with them and supporting the ambitious and unique work they bring to the world on Disney+.”
Upcoming Hulu original series produced in the UK for Disney+ include the second season of the Emmy and BAFTA award-winning Rivals, the anti-romantic comedy Alice and Steve, produced by Clerkenwell Films and starring Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement, and the premium reality format series Jamie and Sophie: Raising Chelsea (w/t), The Loonies and Blind Date.
