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Believe the hype…
“We’re born into a certain world. It’s chosen for us. Some might think it’s brutal. I say it’s glorious.”
These are the words of deadly Irishman, Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney), who for 20 years, was the head of the most powerful criminal family in London.
But when someone assassinates this killer crime boss, they set off a series of irreversible events which begin to tear the city apart and threaten to destroy the violent gangs who run it.
Seriously, who thinks they can kill Colm Meaney and just get away with it?
So begins the latest Sky original, Gangs of London, an explosive, brand new, nine-part gangster series coming exclusively to Sky Atlantic on Thursday 23 April, packed full of secrets, sex, murder and drugs.
Have a look at the action-packed trailer for just a small taste of what’s in store…
Clip via Sky TV
Ready to binge?
If you still need convincing, here are a few more reasons Gangs of London should be your next must-watch TV series…
The Irish Connection
As if living legend Colm Meaney wasn’t enough, the show boasts a cracking ensemble cast, including a number of super Irish actors.
Keep an eye out for rising star, Emmet J Scanlan, playing a dodgy driver for the mob, and we’re particularly excited to see what Michelle Fairley (AKA Game Of Thrones’ Lady Catelyn Stark) gets up to as the Lady Macbeth-style matriarch of London’s most fearsome family.
Plus, all of this homegrown talent on show means we can obviously do that very Irish thing of claiming Gangs of London as our own.
You’re welcome, world.
From the director of The Raid…
The action in this series is insanely good.
We don’t mean it’s just, “hey, that was kind of impressive” levels of good.
We mean this is “HOLY SHIT WHAT THE F*CK DID I JUST SEE” levels of good.
It’s all down to one man and his top team of stunt professionals – Gareth Evans.
Evans, the genius responsible for The Raid and The Raid 2 – the action films that took the world by storm back in 2011 and 2014 – is the co-creator, writer and director behind Gangs of London.
With some incredibly creative and gory deaths, prepare to find yourself flinching and wincing as Evans uses his cinematic vision to turn every pint glass, dart, meat cleaver and even a fridge into a deadly, makeshift weapon.
Just don’t forget to breathe…
Star of the show… Joe Cole
No, not the footballer, you eejit.
Joe Cole, the actor.
Don’t worry if you don’t know the name, because you’ll definitely know the face…
Cole already has an unreal CV, having starred in The Thick Of It, Skins and Black Mirror, but TV fans will most likely recognise him as John Shelby from Peaky Blinders.
In Gangs of London though, he’s finally stepping out of the shadow of Cillian Murphy’s wonderful cheekbones and into the spotlight as Sean Wallace, the son of murdered gang boss, Finn Wallace.
Sean only has one thing on his mind. Revenge.
This is a man you do not want to mess with, as the fiery opening scene of Gangs of London Episode 1 makes very clear…
THAT bar fight in the opening episode
Speaking of amazing scenes…
We’ve seen some brilliant bar fights in our time – not in real life, of course. We’re lovers, not fighters.
But trust us, you haven’t seen anything like this in a TV series. Sure, a certain dart might get all the attention in the trailer, but we’ve just got two words for you…
Ash. Tray.
You’ll know when you see it.
The hidden gem… Sope Dirisu
Remember the name. Sope Dirisu. This man is going to be a star.
In Episode 1, Dirisu’s character, Elliot Finch, may seem like an angry, aggressive nobody, but it soon becomes very apparent that this flawed, fist-throwing mountain of a man is hiding some very dark secrets of his own…
Think Matt Damon in the Jason Bourne movies meets Denzel Washington in The Equalizer and you’re starting to get the idea.
The massive plot twist in Episode 1
Are you mad? Are you actually bonkers?
You think we’re going to tell you the massive plot twist that completely blows your mind in Episode 1!?
Wise up.
Just watch it for yourself. You won’t regret it.
So stock up on snacks, settle onto your sofa, and get ready for the real London underground when Gangs of London is released on Sky Atlantic on Thursday 23 April.
Gangs of London is a new, action-packed, nine-part Sky original drama. All episodes are available from Thursday 23 April on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV.
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