Narcos Creator Is Making His Own Peaky Blinders

Currently, the show — with the working title The Westies — is in the early stages of production and is being developed for MGM+. If Peaky Blinders‘ success is any indicator, this upcoming series has the potential to draw in audiences on a global scale.

What do we know about the plot? It revolves around Irish gangs in New York during the 19th century – a setting not far removed from the streets of Birmingham in Peaky Blinders. It’s a turbulent era, with the city’s darker underbelly exposed, making it an apt setting for a narrative driven by crime, power struggles, and complex characters.

Chris Brancato, the name behind this venture, has already shown his adeptness at crime dramas, as evidenced by his work on Narcos. With the drug-trading saga, he explored the intricate labyrinths of power and corruption. Narcos punched hard and left an indelible mark. Now, with a plot paralleling Peaky Blinders in tone and zeitgeist, it makes one wonder how he will navigate this new territory and what new shades Brancato will bring to the table.

Narcos tells the tale of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, played by Wagner Moura, and his life from the late 1970s to his demise in 1993. The show demonstrates his evolution from a mere smuggler to the head of a powerful criminal empire.

It also vividly portrays the efforts of DEA agents, Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) and Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal), to apprehend him. Peaky Blinders fans will appreciate the similar themes of law, order and the struggle between authority and outlaws.

Meanwhile, Peaky Blinders tells the story of a 19th-century urban youth gang in Birmingham, England. The gang is led by the fierce Tommy Shelby, a character brought to life by Cillian Murphy. The series follows the highs, lows, and tumultuous adventures of Tommy and his family as they navigate the criminal sphere.

The reception towards Peaky Blinders has been overwhelmingly positive, with critics highlighting its grounded storytelling and strong performances. It holds an approval rating of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from 49 critics. The show has also won several awards, including the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018.

A combination of the 19th-century gangland stories of Peaky Blinders (albeit, this time on American shores) and the gritty, no-holds-barred drama of Narcos sounds like a surefire hit. If Brancato can weave together a tale of Irish gangs in New York and the justice department out to thwart their plans as masterfully as he did with the true-life tale of Pablo Escobar, audiences could be in for a real treat.

As production progresses and more details surface, fans of Peaky Blinders and crime dramas in general would do well to mark this series on their watch list.