Netflix gets rights to Brit gangster drama ‘Peaky Blinders’

Netflix, under a deal with the Weinstein Co. and Endemol, has acquired the rights to the first two seasons of gritty British gangster drama “Peaky Blinders.”

It’s the latest in the streaming sites’ roster of exclusive content made available in the United States.

The six-episode first season will debut in the U.S. at 12:01 a.m. PDT on Sept. 30, with season 2 getting a roll out in November.

The Cillian Murphy-led period drama, whose second season launches next week across the pond on BBC Two, takes place in 1919 Birmingham, England, and centers on a street gang whose name stems from its members sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps. The first season averaged 2.4 million viewers.

In his statement of the announcement, Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix, praised the British series for “its compelling storylines, powerful performances and stunningly beautiful imagery.”

The acquisition further strengthens Netflix CFO David Wells’ stated objective for the streaming site earlier this year, which involves expanding the breadth of its programming through original series and licensing exclusive content.

The pact also deepens Netflix’s relationship with the Weinstein Co., which procured the U.S. television and streaming video on demand (SVOD) distribution rights of “Peaky Blinders” last year in a deal from distributor Endemol. The streaming site entered a multiyear licensing deal with the Weinstein Co. last year to become the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for TWC’s first-run films.

“Peaky Blinders is a richly creative, deeply engaging series that will have the perfect home in the U.S. on Netflix,” commented Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of the Weinstein Co.

Twitter: @villarrealy