BARE KNUCKLE chronicles Lenny McLean’s origin as a young street fighter in 1970s East End London, the haunting effects of horrific childhood abuse, and his bitter rivalry with Roy Shaw across three unlicensed boxing matches, culminating in Lenny taking the championship title of “The Guv’nor”. In his later life, Lenny McLean went on to become a bestselling author, and won TV and film roles, the most well known being “Barry the Baptist” in Guy Ritchie’s debut Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, shortly before passing away in 1998.

Beneath the blinding lights and towering sights of the newly-built East London skyline, lies a dark, dangerous web of corruption. Recently released ex-con Liam McDonagh (Sam Claflin) wants nothing more than a peaceful life, and to reconnect with his young son Archie. His brother Sean is in deep, caught up in property developer Clifford Cullen's (Timothy Spall) violent, unforgiving circle, with no way out. Liam must risk everything to save his brother.