AMC+ Welcomes BBC’s New Crime Family Drama ‘This City Is Ours’
EXCLUSIVE: AMC+ has secured the U.S. rights to the BBC crime drama This City is Ours, a significant acquisition ahead of today’s London TV Screenings, organized by distributor Sony Pictures Television.
This deal is part of a broader effort by Sony Pictures Television, which has finalized multiple agreements leading up to the showcase in the UK capital. Since its launch at last year’s Screenings, the series has also been picked up by broadcasters and platforms across the globe, including Stan in Australia, Sky in New Zealand, and HBO Max in Central and Eastern Europe, among others.
The eight-part series is set to debut on AMC+ next month. This City is Ours, created by Stephen Butchard and produced by Left Bank Pictures, is set in Liverpool. It gained considerable attention as the BBC’s most-watched new drama launch of 2025, attracting a consolidated average of 5.8 million viewers and drawing over 7.8 million for the first episode. Nearly three million viewers streamed the series finale ahead of its broadcast on BBC One.
The narrative centers on crime boss Ronnie Phelan, played by Sean Bean, who seeks to retire from his criminal lifestyle. However, he finds himself embroiled in a fierce power struggle involving his son, Jamie, and his right-hand man, Michael Kavanagh. The ensemble cast also features Hannah Onslow, Darci Shaw, Julie Graham, and Laura Aikman. The show has been recommissioned for a second season, which is currently in production in Liverpool and Spain.
The acquisition of This City is Ours marks the second BBC series that SPT has introduced to the U.S. market in recent weeks, following the recent announcement that Netflix has acquired Lord of the Flies.
Jason Spivak, Co-President of Distribution & Networks at SPT, commented on the deal, stating, “We’re thrilled that This City is Ours will debut on AMC+ in the U.S., a testament to the series’ global appeal. The show taps into the enduring strength of family-driven crime drama—a powerful saga set inside a criminal empire where power, loyalty, and betrayal collide. Following its breakout launch at last year’s London Screenings, we’re excited to build on that momentum as we head into this year’s event.”
SPT’s slate for 2026 includes additional scripted series such as S.W.A.T. Exiles and another Left Bank project, Dear England.
The London TV Screenings event will continue today and conclude tomorrow with Fremantle’s showcase.
