DISNEY+ INKS UK FIRST-LOOK DEAL WITH STEPHEN GRAHAM AND HANNAH WALTERS' AWARD-WINNING MATRIARCH PRODUCTIONS

The two-year first-look deal follows the return of the highly anticipated second season of A Thousand Blows to Disney+

LONDON, UK (14 January 2026) - Disney+ has today confirmed a two-year first-look deal out of the UK with Matriarch Productions, founded by the award-winning actors and producers Stephen Graham ("A Thousand Blows", "Deliver Me From Nowhere" "Adolescence") and Hannah Walters ("A Thousand Blows", "Boiling Point", "Adolescence").

Building on the ambitious Disney+ local original production slate in the UK, the two-year deal will span original scripted and unscripted series, bringing compelling British stories to audiences around the world.

Matriarch Productions, along with The Story Collective, and Water & Power Productions are behind the critically acclaimed Hulu Original series "A Thousand Blows", with the highly anticipated second season now available to stream on Disney+.

Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters, Founders, Matriarch Productions, said: "We are beyond thrilled to be working with Disney+ and through this creative partnership will strive to produce inspiring, entertaining and thought-provoking storytelling."

Angela Jain, Head of Content, Disney+ EMEA, commented: "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. 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."

Lee Mason, VP, Scripted, Disney+ EMEA, added "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+."

Disney+ is available from £5.99 per month - with no hidden costs and the ability to cancel anytime. There's something for everyone to watch, with a lifetime of great stories and a constantly growing library of new TV shows, blockbuster movies, exclusive Originals, and live football throughout the year. From Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Hulu, Disney+ spans everything from documentaries to critically acclaimed drama, comedy to classic animation, and general entertainment. Customers can enjoy titles like FX's acclaimed sci-fi drama "Alien: Earth", season five of the award-winning comedy series "Only Murders in the Building", the second season of "High Potential", Disney's box office smash "Lilo & Stitch", 20th Century Studios' "Swiped", and Original Documentary series "Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth" and Original series "A Thousand Blows".

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

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ABOUT DISNEY+

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ABOUT MATRIARCH PRODUCTIONS

Matriarch Productions is an award-winning entertainment production company founded by actors Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters. The company was established in 2020 with the aim of providing a much-needed platform for underrepresented voices and stories in the UK. Championing diversity and inclusivity within the entertainment industry, the organisation produces both film and television projects offering opportunities for underrepresented talent both in front of and behind the camera.

Matriarch Productions' first feature film BOILING POINT, which premiered at the London Film Festival in October 2021, earned 4 BAFTA Film nominations and 11 BIFA nominations of which it won 4. The project was subsequently adapted into a six-part television series of the name for the BBC in 2022.

2025 saw Matriarch Productions produce A THOUSAND BLOWS alongside The Story Collective and Water & Power Productions for Disney + and Hulu. Following much critical acclaim, the series has returned this month for its second season.

In the same year, Matriarch Productions produced ADOLESCENCE for Netflix. The four-part series, each episode filmed with a 'one shot' technique has gone on to receive 13 Emmy nominations, proceeding to win 8, including Best Limited Series. Adolescence recently won 4 Critics Choice Awards, and has received 5 Golden Globe Awards nominations, 4 Indie Spirit nominations, and 4 Actor Award nominations. ADOLESCENCE sits as the second most watched English language series on Netflix.