THEY are the godfathers of British drama who have each built their reputation on hit gangster thrillers, spy epics and biopics.
Guy Ritchie’s comedy crime drama is on its second series, and his gangland saga MobLand has returned to .
Meanwhile, is bringing back in 2027 and is currently writing the next James Bond movie.
And over the years, the competitive writer-directors have often poached each other’s stars.
A source said: “For a long time, Peaky Blinders has been the gangland success story – but Guy Ritchie has managed to make a lot of noise with The Gentlemen.
“The speculation around a role for Meghan Markle upped the show’s profile, as did casting Celebrity Traitors star Maya Jama in a cameo.
“And securing megastars Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan for MobLand was a major move.
“Meanwhile Steven, with the introduction of Disney crook caper A Thousand Blows, is increasingly on Guy’s turf.”
The pair have also both dabbled in documentary.
Guy focused on the £300million theft at London’s Millennium Dome in 2000 for The Diamond Heist on Netflix, while Steven’s account of the Gallagher brothers’ 2025 reunion, , is streaming on .
Here we look at key moments in Guy and Steven’s turf war – and who won each tussle.
The Shows
Breakthrough: Lock Stock Vs Millionaire (1998)
STEVEN and Guy achieved success in the same year – with very different approaches.
Reinventing the gangster drama with Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, Guy enabled Vinnie Jones to transition to acting by giving him the role of mob enforcer Big Chris – and the former footballer has since been in a number of the director’s other projects, most recently The Gentlemen.
Meanwhile, Steven co-created Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? for ITV, which revolutionised the game show format and has gone on to be franchised in more than 120 countries.
Originally hosted by Chris Tarrant, Sun columnist Jeremy Clarkson now sits in the quizmaster’s chair.
Although they were very different projects, Guy and Steven would never again have to struggle with money or getting work.
Verdict: Draw
Superspy movie:The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015) Vs Bond (2027)
GUY had a go at creating a whole new superspy franchise with a movie reboot of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. starring Henry Cavill, who went on to appear in two other Ritchie projects.
The Bond-esque original TV series from the Sixties, which featured secret agents battling in the Cold War, was co-created by 007 author Ian Fleming.
But even though the film featured Hugh Grant, Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander and The Social Network’s Armie Hammer, it received mixed reviews and a sequel was never made.
By contrast, this year it has been announced that .
In the world of spy dramas, that’s the ultimate trump card.
Verdict: Steven wins
World War Two epic: SAS Rogue Heroes (2022) Vs The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
BOTH men are obsessed with history and British heroes – which is why they both created World War Two dramas.
, written by Steven for BBC One, told the story of the formation of the SAS, while Guy co-wrote and directed the movie The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare, which was about fearless soldiers in the Special Operations Executive.
Both were the true stories of elite fighters sent into battle to bend the rules of warfare and provide the British with an upper hand against the Nazis.
Guy’s movie flopped, despite starring Henry Cavill.
SAS Rogue Heroes didn’t have any A-listers but received a much better response from viewers and critics alike. A second series aired last year.
Verdict: Steven wins
Netflix blockbuster: The Gentlemen (2024) Vs House of Guinness (2025)
GETTING a big hit on Netflix is the ultimate goal for any TV writer.
Guy had success with the first series of The Gentlemen, and a second debuted last month.
They’ve been watched more than 90million times.
Although set in the present day, it bears similarities to House Of Guinness, Steven’s story of the famous Irish brewing dynasty during the Victorian era.
They are both tales of rich, high-profile families which feature henchman hired by their posh masters to do their dirty work – Vinnie Jones as gamekeeper Geoffrey Seacombe in The Gentlemen and James Norton as Dublin bruiser Sean McAfferty in .
Series three of The Gentlemen is being made, but House Of Guinness, starring Louis Partridge has not yet had a sequel.
Verdict: Guy wins
The Stars
Stephen Graham: Snatch (2000) Vs A Thousand Blows (2025)
AS a 26-year-old fresh-faced new actor, , sidekick to boxing promoter Turkish, played by .
While Jason went on to become one of Guy’s stable of stars, Stephen never worked with him again.
But he did act in another boxing and gangster drama – A Thousand Blows, which was created by Guy’s rival Steven Knight and debuted on Disney+ last year.
While Snatch is considered a classic of the genre, A Thousand Blows has just been cancelled after only two series.
Stephen also starred in Knight’s gritty historical BBC drama Taboo, as well as his Peaky Blinders movie for Netflix, The Immortal Man.
Verdict: Steven wins
Tom Hardy: Taboo Vs MobLand
HE’S one of the most sought-after stars in TV and film – particularly with Steven and Guy.
has starred in two of Steven’s big dramas, first as Jewish gangster and then in the lead role of Delaney in 2017 epic Taboo.
The latter was a huge success – and ever since Steven has wanted Tom to return in a sequel. Sadly for show fans, Hollywood beckoned for the star.
Yet it was Guy who managed to tempt Tom back to TV with a lead role in Paramount’s MobLand, playing fixer Harry Da Souza.
The second series arrives this week with co-stars Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan returning, and a third is in the pipeline.
It seems Tom, once the darling of Steven, is too tied up with Guy’s show to return for Taboo 2.
Vedict: Guy wins
Brangelina: Snatch Vs Allied
They’re not names you’d immediately associate with the two titans of British drama.
But it’s almost been forgotten that Brad Pitt starred in Snatch way back in 2000 played gypsy boxer, Mickey O’Neil.
By anyone’s standards, that quite a coup – and it was only Guy’s second big film.
But Brad also admitted he loved Peaky Blinders, plus he went on to make the war/romance movie Allied with Steven in 2016.
He played a Canadian intelligence officer who falls in love with a French Resistance fighter played by Marion Cotillard.
Steven got a double win, however, when they also signed to take the lead in his biopic of , called Maria, in 2024.
Verdict: Steven wins
Leading ladies
Peaky Blinders Vs The Gentlemen
Peaky Blinders has boasted some incredible actresses over the years from the late, great Helen McCrory to .
Then there are the female superstars who are also fans – only recently J-Lo was channelling the gangster show’s look at Milan Fashion Week last month, when she said she was “Living my Thomas Shelby fantasy.”
But The Gentlemen also boasts quite a line up of ladies with a cast that launched with and .
Then Guy bagged Maya Jama for series two and there are still rumours swirling that Megahn Markle could join the cast in series three.
But since Peaky has been going since 2013 and The Gentlemen is just getting in its stride, it’s hard to say which will have the more lasting appeal.
Verdict: Steven Draw
