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Peaky Blinders creator to write Netflix Guinness series
Steven Knight, best known as the creator of hit BBC series Peaky Blinders, is working on a drama about the Guinness dynasty for Netflix.
Announced coincidentally just before St Patrick’s Day as part of a long list of other forthcoming Netflix UK projects yesterday, the series will consist of eight episodes, each lasting an hour.
Given the working title House of Guinness, it will delve into the fallout from the death of brewer and politician Benjamin Guinness in 1868 – think Succession, but with stout.
“Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York,” a synopsis from the streaming platform explained, “will focus on the consequences of the death of Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery, and the far-reaching impact of his cunning will on the fate of his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben, as well as on a group of Dublin characters who work and interact with the growing juggernaut that is Guinness.”
Netflix’s vice president of UK content Anne Mensah described the series as having “all the power of Peaky Blinders, but the scale and the sweep of a true family saga”.
“The Guinness dynasty is known the world over – wealth, poverty, power, influence, and great tragedy are all intertwined to create a rich tapestry of material to draw from,” explained Knight. “I’ve always been fascinated by their stories and am excited to bring the characters to life for the world to see.”
Given the finale of the Birmingham-based gangster drama in 2022 drew in almost four million viewers (plus many more on BBC iPlayer), having Knight’s name attached to a project concerning one of the most popular beer brands in the UK might be the perfect two part pour for a Netflix hit.
Neither the casting nor release date have been revealed yet.
Today, Guinness is owned by Diageo, with sales of the black stuff offering a bright spot for the drinks giant. db has asked Diageo whether it has had any involvement in the Netflix series.