BBC One is moving forward with a new drama project titled Drug Girls, a series envisioned as the spiritual successor to the crime phenomenon Peaky Blinders. The plan is to explore the rise of a female-driven criminal underworld in London, centering on Soho and its early nightlife, according to industry reports from Deadline. The series aims to translate the pages of Marek Kohn book into a vivid television narrative that chronicles the postwar era and the emergence of a British drug scene after World War I.
The project, provisionally named Drug Girls, would adapt Kohn s work Dope Girls The Birth of the British Drug Underground for a screen audience. The book documents how underground networks formed and expanded during a transformative period in Britain, and the series intends to dramatize the social and cultural shifts that accompanied an evolving urban nightlife and the entangled worlds of entertainment, crime, and commerce. Viewers can expect a historically grounded look at the pressures and opportunities that shaped early drug distribution and the people who operated within those systems.
Filming is planned to begin in the latter part of the year with a six episode first season. Production details, including casting, are still being finalized, and no actors have been announced for the main roles. The project has generated interest in the industry for its potential to blend historical texture with modern, character-driven storytelling that has been a hallmark of British prestige drama.
Deadline notes that BBC is in discussions with American production companies and broadcasting platforms as it looks to position Drug Girls for a broader global audience. The negotiations reflect a growing trend of cross continental collaborations in high end television, where UK period drama is paired with international distribution strategies to maximize reach while preserving creative control and artistic integrity.
In related entertainment news, Steven Knight the creator of Peaky Blinders is reported to have penned a new Star Wars script, underscoring his continued involvement in major genre projects and his track record for crafting provocative, stylish narratives that resonate with wide audiences. The move signals ongoing momentum in Knight s career and a continued interest from large franchises in his distinctive voice and approach to storytelling.