Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy is stepping back into the dark and intense world of “Peaky Blinders” with a brand-new film that transports audiences to the turbulent era of World War Two. This latest project sees Murphy reprising his iconic role as Thomas “Tommy” Shelby, the cunning and ruthless leader of the notorious Birmingham gang. Now older and having left his violent past behind, Tommy is drawn out of retirement to confront a sinister Nazi plot unfolding in the heart of Birmingham, England.
The journey to bring this story to the big screen has been a long one. Murphy revealed that the script underwent years of careful development, as the creative team worked meticulously to craft a narrative that could stand apart from the original television series. Unlike the six-hour format of the show’s seasons, this film condenses the story into a tightly woven two-hour experience, presenting a fresh yet familiar chapter in the Shelby saga.
“Peaky Blinders” first captivated viewers in 2013, running for six seasons with each installment consisting of six episodes. The original series began in 1919, chronicling the rise of the Shelby family in post-World War One Birmingham. This new film, titled “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man,” expands the universe by introducing a compelling new cast, including Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, and Barry Keoghan. Keoghan takes on the role of Duke Shelby, Tommy’s illegitimate son, whose complex relationship with his father forms the emotional core of the story.
Murphy emphasized that once the story found its focus, it became much more about the intimate dynamics of family than the violence that typically surrounds the Shelbys. “When we got the story clicking, it became just about family, about father and son,” he explained. Barry Keoghan echoed this sentiment, drawing parallels to other acclaimed crime dramas. “The violence is the backdrop… you look at ‘The Sopranos’… it’s the moments in the kitchen. It’s all family,” he said, highlighting the human element beneath the gritty exterior.
The film’s screenplay was penned by Steven Knight, the original creator of the “Peaky Blinders” series. Knight shared that from the very beginning, he envisioned concluding this chapter of the Shelby story with a feature film set during the Second World War. This intention guided the project’s development, allowing the narrative to explore new historical and emotional territory while maintaining the series’ trademark intensity.
One of the film’s most striking opening scenes recreates the 1940 bombing of the Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) factory, a pivotal moment rooted in Knight’s personal history. Knight’s mother worked at the BSA factory during the war, assembling explosives for artillery shells, though she was fortunate not to be on duty during the attack. This personal connection adds a layer of authenticity and emotional resonance to the film, grounding the fictional tale in real-life experiences of wartime Britain.
“Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man” is set to premiere on Netflix on March 20, inviting both longtime fans and new viewers to delve deeper into the Shelby family’s legacy. The film promises to blend historical drama with the raw, character-driven storytelling that made the original series a global phenomenon, all while exploring themes of loyalty, identity, and survival in one of the most challenging periods of the 20th century.
