{{Short description|English screenwriter and film director}} {{Other people|Steve Knight}} {{EngvarB|date=May 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Steven Knight | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} | image = Steven Knight-64548 (cropped).jpg | caption = Knight in 2024 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|8|5|df=y}} | birth_place = Birmingham, England | alma_mater = University College London | occupation = {{hlist|Screenwriter|producer|film director}} | years_active = 1989–present | spouse = Margot Kenrick | children = 7 }}
'''Steven Knight''' (born 5 August 1959)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steven Knight - Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1140275/bio/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> is an English screenwriter, producer, and director for film and television. He wrote the screenplays for the films ''Closed Circuit'', ''Dirty Pretty Things'', and ''Eastern Promises'', and also wrote and directed the films ''Locke'', ''Hummingbird'' (a.k.a. ''Redemption'') and ''Serenity''. In July 2025, it was announced that he will write the 26th official James Bond film, to be directed by Denis Villeneuve.<ref name="Amazon">{{cite web | url=https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/entertainment/amazon-mgm-studios-james-bond-screenwriter-steven-knight | title=James Bond update: Steven Knight to write next 007 film for Amazon MGM Studios | website=Amazon | date=31 July 2025 }}</ref>
Knight is one of three creators of ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'', a game show that has been remade and aired in around 160 countries worldwide. He is also the creator of the BBC's ''Peaky Blinders'', ''The Detectives,'' ''SAS: Rogue Heroes, A Thousand Blows'', and ''House of Guinness''. He has also written for ''Commercial Breakdown'', ''See'', and ''Taboo''.
He has built a large film and television studio complex in inner-city Birmingham called Digbeth Loc., opening in 2024.
==Early life and education== Steven Knight was born in 1959 to George and Ida Knight in Birmingham,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/feb/25/birmingham-peaky-blinders-finale-city-tourism-boosted | title=Birmingham doffs cap to Peaky Blinders for transforming its image | work=The Guardian | date=25 February 2022 | last=Murray | first=Jessica | access-date=18 September 2025 }}</ref> where he grew up in the West Midlands region of England. He was the youngest of seven children, five of them boys. His father was a blacksmith.<ref name=did2024/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/features/tv-interviews/sas-rogue-heroes-steven-knight-peaky-blinders-jack-oconnell-3331964 | title=SAS Rogue Heroes: Inside Steven Knight's thrilling Peaky Blinders follow-up | website=NME | date=20 October 2022 }}</ref>
He attended The Streetly School as a teenager, in Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, in the West Midlands. He then went on to study English at University College London.<ref name=did2024>{{cite web | title=Steven Knight, writer | website=BBC |series=Desert Island Discs| date=11 August 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021xdf | access-date=12 August 2024| format = audio (57 min.) + text|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812004119/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021xdf | archive-date= 12 August 2024| url-status=live}}</ref>
==Career== After completing university, Knight returned to Birmingham and began writing radio commercials, before moving back to London, where he worked for Capital Radio. He first wrote television comedy, then novels, and then moved on to screenplays.<ref name=did2024/> ===Screenplays=== Before he created TV's ''Peaky Blinders'', Knight was best known for screenplays he wrote for the films ''Dirty Pretty Things'' and ''Eastern Promises''. His work on the screenplay for ''Dirty Pretty Things'' earned him the Edgar Award for ''Best Motion Picture Screenplay'' and London Film Critics Circle award for ''British Screenwriter of the Year''.<ref>[http://criticscircle.org.uk/film/award.asp?CAT=bsw&title=British%20Screenwriter%20of%20the%20Year British Screenwriter of the Year] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221172407/http://criticscircle.org.uk/film/award.asp?CAT=bsw&title=British%20Screenwriter%20of%20the%20Year |date=21 February 2007 }}, ''London Film Critics Circle''. Retrieved 29 July 2008.</ref> The screenplay was also nominated for several other awards including the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay<ref>[http://www.oscars.org/76academyawards/nomswins.html 76th Academy Awards Nominees and Winners] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327230432/http://www.oscars.org/76academyawards/nomswins.html |date=27 March 2008 }}, ''Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences''. Retrieved 29 July 2008.</ref> and the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay.<ref>[http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/nominations/?year=2002 Film Nominations 2002], ''British Academy of Film and Television Arts''. Retrieved 29 July 2008.</ref>
Knight wrote the screenplay for the 2013 film ''Closed Circuit,'' which was directed by John Crowley and which starred Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guest blog: Steven Knight on the world of 'Closed Circuit' |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/08/28/steven-knight-closed-circuit-guest-blog/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref>
Knight wrote a draft of a screenplay based on the book ''Shutter Island'' written by Dennis Lehane, but the draft that was used for the movie of the same name was written by Laeta Kalogridis.<ref>[https://variety.com/2010/film/markets-festivals/shutter-island-1117942168/ Shutter Island], ''Variety''. Retrieved 29 July 2008.</ref>
Recent films based on screenplays that Knight has written include ''The Hundred-Foot Journey'' directed by Lasse Hallström, based on the book of the same name by Richard C. Morais and starring Helen Mirren; ''Seventh Son'', an adventure story starring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, Djimon Hounsou, Kit Harington and Jason Scott Lee, as well as the film ''Pawn Sacrifice'', based on U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer, with Tobey Maguire playing Fischer in the film. He also wrote the screenplay of ''World War Z II.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3328687/world-war-z-slate-wiped-clean/|title='World War Z' Slate Wiped Clean|first=Brad|last=Miska|date=19 January 2015}}</ref>
Knight wrote the script for the 2021 dramedy ''Locked Down'', about a couple (Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor) attempting a high-stakes jewellery heist during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|date=30 September 2020|title='Lockdown': Ben Stiller, Lily James, Stephen Merchant, Dulé Hill, Jazmyn Simon & Mark Gatiss Set To Join Doug Liman's Harrods Heist Movie Underway In London|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/lockdown-ben-stiller-lily-james-stephen-merchant-dule-hill-jazmyn-simon-mark-gatis-set-to-join-doug-limans-harrods-heist-movie-underway-in-london-1234588741/|access-date=23 November 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}</ref> Knight later wrote the script for the film ''Spencer'', starring Kristen Stewart as Diana, Princess of Wales.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ramachandran|first=Naman|date=21 January 2021|title=Steven Knight Talks 'Peaky Blinders' Movie, Writing Kristen Stewart's Lady Diana and Working With Netflix (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/global/steven-knight-peaky-blinders-movie-spencer-kristen-stewart-1234889369/|access-date=27 January 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> Knight would subsequently reunite with ''Spencer'' director Pablo Larraín on the film ''Maria'', starring Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 May 2023|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/angelina-jolie-maria-callas-movie-cannes-market-filmnation-1235361309/|title=Maria Callas Biopic Starring Angelina Jolie Heads To Cannes Market With FilmNation|access-date=26 January 2026|website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>
In March 2023, it was reported that Knight would write the screenplay for an upcoming ''Star Wars'' film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, replacing Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson. The film is set to be a continuation to the ''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy, focusing on Rey Skywalker's attempts to bring back the Jedi Order.<ref>{{Cite web |last=B. Vary |first=Adam|date=2023-03-22 |title=Steven Knight to Write New 'Star Wars' Movie After Damon Lindelof, Justin Britt-Gibson Exit (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/star-wars-steven-knight-damon-lindelof-justin-britt-gibson-1235560466/|access-date=2023-03-22|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> However, by October 2024, Knight departed from the film.<ref>{{Cite web|last=B. Vary|first= Adam|date=October 25, 2024|title='Star Wars' Movie With Daisy Ridley Loses Screenwriter Steven Knight|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/star-wars-daisy-ridley-steven-knight-1236190522/|access-date=October 25, 2024|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
It was also announced in March 2023 that Knight would be writing the screenplay for a remake of the Alfred Hitchcock film ''Vertigo'' for Paramount Pictures, with Robert Downey Jr. eyed for the lead role.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 23, 2023|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/vertigo-remake-robert-downey-jr-steven-knight-alfred-hitchcock-james-stewart-paramount-pictures-davis-entertainment-team-downey-1235308636/|title=Paramount Sets Remake Of Hitchcock's 'Vertigo' As Potential Robert Downey Jr-Starrer; Steven Knight To Write Script & Davis Entertainment To Produce With Team Downey|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=March 24, 2023}}</ref>
In July 2025, it was announced that he will write the screenplay of the next James Bond film, to be directed by Denis Villeneuve.<ref name="Amazon" /> ''Deadline'' reported that Knight landed the job after he met with Villeneuve, with various other writers in the running.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Benjamin |date=2025-07-31 |title=Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight set to write next James Bond movie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jul/31/steven-knight-james-bond-denis-villeneuve |access-date=2025-07-31 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2025-07-31 |title=Next James Bond Pic At Amazon MGM Studios To Be Penned By Steven Knight |url=https://deadline.com/2025/07/new-james-bond-movie-steven-knight-writer-1236475348/ |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> He said, "It has always been on my bucket list and it's fantastic to be invited to do it, I can't wait to get started. I'm hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that's the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-01 |title=James Bond: Peaky Blinders' Steven Knight 'can't wait' to write latest film |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99mxlym3lko |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Knight's writing sometimes involves "groups of men who are probably not the easiest people to fit into conventional society."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/bbc-sas-rogue-heroes-creator-25379150#amp-readmore-target | title=SAS Rogue Heroes creator reflects on show's similarity to Peaky Blinders | date=28 October 2022 }}</ref>
===Directing=== In addition to his writing, Knight has directed three films: ''Hummingbird'' (2013), starring Jason Statham, ''Locke'' (2013), starring Tom Hardy, and ''Serenity'' (2019) starring Matthew McConaughey, Diane Lane, and Anne Hathaway. ''Locke'' won a British Independent Film Award in 2013 for Best Screenplay. Knight has directed several episodes of the TV series for which he also frequently wrote, ''The Detectives''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Tom Chang {{!}} |date=2025-03-12 |title=Steven Knight on A Thousand Blows, "Peaky Blinders" Movie & More |url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/steven-knight-on-a-thousand-blows-peaky-blinders-movie-more/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2022, Knight was the co-director of the Opening Ceremony for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which took place on 28 July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whittock |first=Jesse |date=2022-07-28 |title=‘Peaky Blinders’ Film To Shoot At Writer Steven Knight’s Digbeth Studios: “It’s Like Coming Home”; Dance Theater Spin-Off Sets Cast |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/peaky-blinders-film-steven-knight-digbeth-studios-1235079819/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
===TV series===
Knight also co-created the TV series game show ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' (along with Mike Whitehill and David Briggs) and also is the creator of the TV series ''Show do Milhão'' and ''All About Me''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=televisual.com |last2=Creamer |first2=Jon |date=2025-08-01 |title=Steven Knight to write next James Bond film |url=https://www.televisual.com/news/steven-knight-to-write-next-james-bond-film/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=Televisual}}</ref>
Knight created the television series ''Peaky Blinders'' and has written for TV series including BBC's ''Commercial Breakdown'' (with comedian Jasper Carrott), ''Comedy Playhouse'' (the episode "Wild Oats" in 1993), ''Frankie's On...'', ''Auntie's Big Bloomers'', Taboo, and ''Canned Carrott''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Graham |date=2017-11-13 |title=Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight on the mystery he will never solve |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/peaky-blinders-writer-steven-knight-13897172 |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en}}</ref>
He created and wrote ''A Christmas Carol'', a dark adaptation of the Dickens story for BBC One in the UK and FX in the US, starring Guy Pearce as Scrooge and Andy Serkis as the Ghost of Christmas Past, as well as an adaptation of Dickens' ''Great Expectations'' starring Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham. It was notable for its ending, which steered markedly from that of Dickens's original.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-03-24/great-expectations-fx-review | title='Great Expectations' review: A dismal remodel of a Charles Dickens tale | website=Los Angeles Times | date=24 March 2023 }}</ref>
==Studios== {{as of|2024}}, Knight has been involved in establishing a new television and film studio complex, called Digbeth Loc.,<ref name=did2024/><ref>{{cite web | last=Sandiford | first=Josh | title=Digbeth Loc Studios: Set builder 4Wood to occupy movie hub | website=BBC Home | date=8 February 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqed5vjm03ro | access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref> in Digbeth, central Birmingham, opening in 2025.<ref>{{cite web | title=Home | website=Digbeth Loc Studios | url=https://www.digbeth-loc-studios.com/ | access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref> The complex would be a home for the band UB40, as well as providing filming facilities for a new ''Peaky Blinders'' film, and the BBC drama series ''This Town''.<ref>{{cite web | last=Conlan | first=Tara | title=Peaky Blinders creator launches construction of new film and TV studio | website=The Guardian | date=21 March 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/21/peaky-blinders-construction-digbeth-loc-studios-this-town-ub40-birmingham | access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref>
==Awards and honours == {{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Steven Knight}} Knight was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to drama, entertainment and the community in Birmingham.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N9|date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
==Personal life and media appearances== {{as of|August 2024}}, Knight lives in Gloucestershire and is married with seven children.<ref name=did2024/>
Knight is a lifelong supporter of Birmingham City FC, and in 2025 was the executive producer on the documentary Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues following Tom Brady and Tom Wagner's takeover of the club and it’s transformation.
Knight was a guest on ''Desert Island Discs'' on BBC Radio 4 on 11 August 2024, selecting George Michael, Bulgarian folk music, and Harry Lauder (the latter a reference to his support of Birmingham City F.C.), among others. He spoke about a variety of topics, including chess, Charles Dickens, Diana, Princess of Wales, and the origins of the SAS.<ref name=did2024/>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! width="65"| Director ! width="65"| Writer ! width="65"| Producer |- | 2001 | ''Gypsy Woman'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2002 | ''Dirty Pretty Things'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2006 | ''Amazing Grace'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2007 | ''Eastern Promises'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | rowspan="3" | 2013 | ''Closed Circuit'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- |''Hummingbird'' |{{Yes}} |{{Yes}} |{{No}} |- |''Locke'' |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |{{No}} |- | rowspan="3"| 2014 | ''The Hundred-Foot Journey'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | ''Seventh Son'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | ''Pawn Sacrifice'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2015 | ''Burnt'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2016 | ''Allied'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{partial|Executive}} |- | rowspan="2"| 2017 | ''Woman Walks Ahead'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | ''November Criminals'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{partial|Executive}} |- | 2018 | ''The Girl in the Spider's Web'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- |2019 |''Serenity'' |{{Yes}} |{{Yes}} |{{Yes}} |- | rowspan="2"| 2021 | ''Locked Down'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | ''Spencer'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{partial|Executive}} |- | 2024 | ''Maria'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{partial|Executive}} |- | 2026 | ''Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |-
|}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! width="65"| Writer ! width="65"| Executive<br />producer ! width="65"| Creator ! width="65"| Director ! Notes |- | 1989 | ''Commercial Breakdown'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | |- | 1990–1992 | ''Canned Carrott'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | |- | 1993–1997 | ''The Detectives'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | |- | 1998–present | ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Co-created with David Briggs and Mike Whitehill |- | 2002–2004 | ''All About Me'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | 2013–2022 | ''Peaky Blinders'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | 2017 | ''Taboo'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no wrap|Co-created with Tom Hardy}} and Chips Hardy |- | 2019–2022 | ''See'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | 2019 | ''A Christmas Carol'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | 2022–present | ''SAS: Rogue Heroes'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |rowspan=2| 2023 | ''Great Expectations'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | |- | ''All the Light We Cannot See'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Co-developed with Shawn Levy |- | rowspan=2| 2024 | ''This Town'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | ''The Veil'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | 2025–present | ''A Thousand Blows'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- | 2025 | ''House of Guinness'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commonscat}} *{{IMDb name|1140275}}
{{Steven Knight}} {{Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Steven}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of University College London Category:Best Screenplay Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners Category:British film producers Category:British male screenwriters Category:British male television writers Category:British television directors Category:British television producers Category:British television writers Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Film directors from London Category:Film producers from London Category:Mass media people from Birmingham, West Midlands Category:Television people from London Category:British television show creators Category:Writers from Birmingham, West Midlands