The hit series Peaky Blinders might have ended in 2022, but fans will still get the chance to return to Tommy Shelby’s world.
Created by Steven Knight, the period drama was set in Birmingham, England, and followed the Shelby family, who ran a criminal enterprise that established itself as a major player in the city’s illegal betting and bootlegging rackets during the aftermath of World War I.
The show ran for six seasons and starred Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, the leader of the Peaky Blinders. He was joined in the cast by Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, Finn Cole, Tom Hardy and Anya Taylor-Joy, among others.
Now, Peaky Blinders is getting the movie treatment, with Knight telling Variety in 2021 that the film was in “development.” He added, “It’s a fully formed idea and it has a beginning, middle and end. And I think it’s going to be a fitting conclusion to the story told so far.”
In March 2024, Knight gave another exciting update for Peaky Blinders fans, telling Birmingham World that shooting would begin in September. In June, Netflix confirmed that the movie is on the way, sharing a photo of the script on X (formerly Twitter).
From Knight’s comments on the project’s plot to who would be interested in reprising their roles, here’s everything the creator and the series’ stars have said about the Peaky Blinders movie.
Creator Steven Knight says filming will begin in September 2024
On top of creating Peaky Blinders, Knight also created the popular game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire, wrote the Princess Diana biopic Spencer and developed the Netflix series All the Light We Cannot See.
Despite his busy schedule, Knight remains committed to making a Peaky Blinders movie. In 2022, when speaking to the Heart Breakfast podcast, Knight said he was almost finished writing the movie’s script, saying, “Yes, I’m writing it right now. I’m nearly done writing it, and we’re going to shoot it … I’m setting up some film and television studios in Digbeth in Birmingham.”
That same year, Knight and the Peaky Blinders cast did a group interview with Esquire to give an oral history of the series. During the interview, Knight said that the new cast members who joined the show in season 6 would be integral to the potential film’s plot.
“In series six we’re bringing in the new generation, and they are going to be part of what happens in the film, ” Knight said. “I think it’s finding those actors that you just watch and you think, there you go. There’s the future.”
In 2023, he gave even more details about the film, telling the Radio Times that it is set during World War II and that audiences should “expect the unexpected.”
Later that year, Knight told Radio Times magazine he was “just working on the final bits of it” and planned to start shooting in the middle of 2024. It looks like his timeline wasn’t too far off, because when he talked to Birmingham World in March 2024, he said they were on track to start filming in the fall.
“We’re shooting it in September just down the road in Digbeth,” he said.
Cillian Murphy is “definitely” reprising his role as Tommy Shelby
Since the end of Peaky Blinders, Murphy has occasionally discussed returning to his memorable character — but only if it feels right.
“If there’s more story there, I’d love to do it. But it has to be right,” the Oscar winner told Rolling Stone in May 2023. “Steve Knight wrote 36 hours of television, and we left on such a high. I’m really proud of that last series. So, it would have to feel legitimate and justified to do more.”
A few months later, Murphy commented on the rumored project again, telling Radio Times magazine in July 2023, “That’s probably the worst thing about Peaky Blinders – getting asked about the movie all the time!”
He continued, “I would love to do a movie if there’s more story to tell. I’ll wait and see but I have no update for you on that.”
Murphy’s role in the movie was confirmed in March 2024, when Knight told Birmingham World that the actor was “definitely returning for it.”
When Netflix confirmed that a Peaky Blinders movie is coming, the streamer shared a quote from Murphy in a post on X.
“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,” he said.
In October 2024, Harper told Tudum that it was “incredibly exciting” to work with Murphy and Knight again.
“There’s a great feeling of anticipation and excitement amongst our outstanding cast and crew,” he said. “We’re grateful to the fans for getting us to this point and believe this next chapter is going to deliver something extraordinary.”
Sophie Rundle joked she’d be the “last” to know about the film
In the series, actress Sophie Rundle played Ada Thorne, Tommy’s sister. In 2023, when filming Netflix’s The Diplomat, the actress was asked if she knew anything about a potential Peaky Blinders movie by the Radio Times.
“I have not,” the actress responded, explaining, “but actors are genuinely the last people to be told anything because we sit here and then we tell you. There are rumors, who knows? I think the appetite for that will be generated by the fans, I guess.”
Sam Claflin said he “would love to revisit” his character, Oswald Mosley
Joining Peaky Blinders during the show’s fifth season in 2018, Sam Claflin played Oswald Mosley, a politician who became one of the main antagonists against the Shelby family.
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live in 2023, an audience member asked Claflin if he had any information about the rumored Peaky Blinders film.
“I do not know anything,” the actor replied. “I believe it’s happening, I haven’t had a call myself. I would love to revisit that character … that’s literally all I can say, unfortunately.”
Kate Phillips would be “thrilled” to appear in a movie as Linda Shelby
Actress Kate Phillips played Linda Shelby, the ex-wife of Tommy’s brother Arthur. When speaking to the Radio Times in 2022, Phillips spoke about the show’s finale, saying it was “completely stunning and felt so devastating and surprising.”
As for whether she’d be interested in joining the cast of a potential film, Phillips replied, “Of course, hell yeah, I would be thrilled if Steven Knight wants to bring Linda into the film. Yes, please!”
Knight is introducing new characters
While several original cast members are expected to be a part of the film, Knight has also recruited new faces.
In July 2024, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Dune‘s Rebecca Ferguson would join the cast. Saltburn‘s Barry Keoghan followed shortly after. Tim Roth and Jay Lycurgo have also joined the cast, as confirmed by Netflix’s Tudum in October 2024.
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