Picture: Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders – BBC Film
Over the past few years, we knew plans were in motion to produce a Peaky Blinders movie on Netflix. We now have official confirmation that the film has been greenlit. Filming is underway with Barry Keoghan, Tim Roth, and Rebecca Ferguson joining the cast, and academy-award-winning actor Cillian Murphy will return to reprise his role as Tommy Shelby.
We last spoke about the subject two years ago, after the sixth and final season of the British drama was released on Netflix in June 2022.
On June 4th, 2024, Deadline confirmed that Netflix had officially given the green light for the Peaky Blinders movie.
Thanks to the global pandemic, which severely impacted the production of the sixth season, the idea of concluding Tommy Shelby’s story as a movie rather than a seventh season was born. Steven Knight, the creator and showrunner of Peaky Blinders, had openly discussed plans for a film as early as 2021.
Steven Knight had the following to say about the movie;
“I’m genuinely thrilled that this movie is about to happen. It will be an explosive chapter in the Peaky Blinders story. No holds barred. Full-on Peaky Blinders at war.”
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 17: Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, during the press launch of a Rambert Dance production entitled “Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby”, inspired by the “Peaky Blinders” television series, at Dance Hub Birmingham on January 17, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)
Tom Harper has been confirmed as the movie’s director. He previously directed the second half of the first season of Peaky Blinders and is no stranger to the production.
Harper had the following to say about the movie;
“When I first directed Peaky Blinders over 10 years ago, we didn’t know what the series would become, but we did know that there was something in the alchemy of the cast and the writing that felt explosive. Peaky has always been a story about family — and so it’s incredibly exciting to be reuniting with Steve and Cillian to bring the movie to audiences across the world on Netflix.”
WPD0FF Toronto, ON. 8th Sep, 2019. Tom Harper (Director) at arrivals for THE AERONAUTS Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival 2019, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, ON September 8, 2019. Credit: JA/Everett Collection/Alamy Live News
Who is in the cast of the Peaky Blinders movie?
To no one’s surprise, Cillian Murphy will return to reprise his role as Tommy Shelby. Since the end of the sixth season, Murphy has been open and honest about his willingness to return to the role of Tommy Shelby, but was glad to have a break, which he thought was “good for everyone.” Suffice it to say he’s used that time extremely well by going on to be an Academy-Award-winning actor, earning the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s biopic-drama Oppenheimer.
Murphy reportedly told Deadline the following;
“It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn’t finished with me. … It is very gratifying to be recollaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version of Peaky Blinders. This is one for the fans.”
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: Cillian Murphy, winner of the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for “Oppenheimer”, onstage in the press room at the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
On August 30th, Netflix announced that Barry Keoghan had joined the cast of the Peaky Blinders movie. His role in the film has yet to be revealed. Keoghan is one of Ireland’s most popular actors after starring in films such as Saltburn, The Banshees of Inisherin, Eternals, and The Batman as the next iteration of The Joker.
As for television, Keoghan has starred in several popular shows such as Chernobyl, Top Boy, and Masters of the Air.
Picture: Barry Keoghan in Top Boy as Jonny – Netflix.
In September, Netflix confirmed that Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction) and Rebecca Ferguson (Dune) had joined the cast of the Peaky Blinders movie.
Picture: Tim Roth (left) and Rebecca Ferguson (right).
On October 11th, Netflix announced that five series cast members would be returning to reprise their roles in the Peaky Blinders movie;
- Stephen Graham as Hayden Stagg.
- Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby.
- Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong.
- Packy Lee as Johnny Dogs.
- Ian Peck as Curly.
In the announcement, they also confirmed that Jay Lycurgo (Titans, The Batman) has joined the cast.
What is the production status?
The cameras are officially rolling on the Peaky Blinders movie!
Steven Knight shared his excitement about the start of production:
“I’m thrilled to see the cameras rolling on this new chapter of the Peaky Blinders story, set during World War II. The country is at war, and so, of course, are our Peaky Blinders.”
Picture: Cillian Murphy and Steven Knight – BBC Film
Director Tom Harper also had the following to say;
“There’s a great feeling of anticipation and excitement amongst our outstanding cast and crew. We’re grateful to the fans for getting us to this point and believe this next chapter is going to deliver something extraordinary.”
What is the plot of the Peaky Blinders movie?
All current details of the plot have been kept under wraps. However, in April 2022, Deadline reported that Knight confirmed the story would occur during World War 2.
What does this mean for World War 1 veteran Tommy Shelby? Enemies at home, such as the fascist Oswald Mosely, may keep Shelby occupied, not to mention the likes of Boston gangster Jack Nelson or the widow of his cousin Michael, Gina Gray.
Picture: Sam Claflin as Oswald Moseley – BBC Film
Birmingham was one of the most heavily bombed cities in the UK during the Blitz. Between August 1940 and April 1943, the city was bombed extensively by the German Air Force, which saw thousands of civilians killed and injured, alongside thousands of homes and hundreds of factories destroyed.
Aerial view showing bomb damage around St Martin’s Church in the Bull Ring, Birmingham during WWII in April 1941.
When is the Peaky Blinders movie coming to Netflix?
Given that filming is due to take place later this year, it is highly unlikely that it will arrive in 2024.
A Fall 2025 release for the movie is most likely.
For now, we are waiting for Netflix to make an official announcement.
Will the film be available on Netflix in the UK?
Nothing has been confirmed at the time of writing. Given that the series was a BBC production, it wouldn’t surprise us if the movie was broadcast on BBC One and then released on Netflix UK at a later date.
Are you looking forward to watching the Peaky Blinders movie on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
