Jamie Bell as Duke Shelby in the ‘Peaky Blinders’ sequel. Photo: Ben Blackall/Netflix.
Preview:
The first image of Jamie Bell in the ‘Peaky Blinders’ sequel series is online.
He takes over the role of Duke Shelby.
This new show is set in the early 1950s.
While generational crime drama ‘Peaky Blinders’ wrapped up its TV run in 2022 and movie ‘The Immortal Man’ effectively closed out one part of the story, creator Steven Knight still has more stories to tell.
And now, via Netflix, we have the first look at one of the main cast members, Jamie Bell, who takes over the role of Duke Shelby (as played by Barry Keoghan in the last couple of seasons and the movie).
What’s the story of the new ‘Peaky Blinders’ series?
Cillian Murphy in ‘Peaky Blinders’. Photo: Netflix.
In this new era of the Peaky Blinders, a decade after World War Two, the race to rebuild Birmingham becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions. This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and jeopardy.
At its blood-soaked heart is Duke Shelby (Bell): older, wiser, more ambitious, and most certainly more dangerous.
‘Peaky Blinders’ sequel series: Steven Knight talks
Steven Knight attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix.
Here’s Knight talking about the new iteration of his creation:
“I am thrilled that we are announcing a new era of Peaky Blinders, moving the story to post-war Birmingham in the early 50s. We are incredibly fortunate to have Jamie Bell taking the role of Tommy Shelby’s oldest son, Duke, and to have Charlie Heaton also leading the cast. There are more exciting cast announcements to come, and ‘Peaky’ is on the road again.”
(L to R) ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ screenwriter Steven Knight and Tim Roth.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Tim Roth and screenwriter Steven Knight about their work on ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’, developing the screenplay for the movie, how Roth got involved with the project, his take on his character, working with Cillian Murphy, how Thomas Shelby has changes since the series, and why Knight wants to thank the fans for their devotion.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Roth and Knight, as well as director Tom Harper.
Steven Knight attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix.
Moviefone: To begin with, Steven, can you talk about developing the screenplay and did you always know that this film would be how the ‘Peaky Blinders’ story would end?
Steven Knight: Yeah, the actual details of the story were not set, but I always wanted it to end in the Second World War, and for it to end as a film. In fact, somebody showed me a clip of an interview I did just after the end of the first series, when it was a little BBC Two thing. For some reason, I’m very arrogantly saying, “What I want to do is take this all the way to World War II and I want it to be a feature film.” I’m thinking, “What are you going on about?” But here we are.
Tim Roth attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix.
MF: Tim, were you a fan of the TV series and what was your first reaction to the screenplay for the movie?
Tim Roth: I hadn’t watched the series at all. I’d worked with Cillian back in the day, and then I’d known him over the years, and we’d given him an award in Cannes and stuff like that. I mean, I was a fan and I loved him, but I hadn’t seen the show. I’d bumped into him when he was filming it over the years, because I’d be in Liverpool, or I’d been in Birmingham or whatever. There was a joy there. Also, the series had a reputation within the acting world of, “Oh, you want to work on that. It’s such fun. The characters are great to play,” and so on. So that happened. But what happened was I texted Cillian after he got his Oscar and told him, “Just keep your head down and run for the hills.” He said, “Doing it. Do you want to do a film?” That was how it happened. He did the same with Barry and I think he got Rebecca on. So, he’s causing some kind of furor in the casting world because he’s actually taking over as a casting director.
MF: What was your first reaction to your character? Did you understand his point of view right away?
TR: I thought he was brilliant. When he was written, he had a different twist to him. He was in the upper classes. I asked these guys if I could flip it and make him more of a normal guy, because I felt If he’s coming out from what seems like a much more normal and regular place, when the mask comes off, its more terrifying. Also, he needs to be able to communicate with Peaky Blinders and they wouldn’t talk to a toff. They wouldn’t talk to an upper-class snob.
MF: Steven, can you talk about how Thomas Shelby has changed since the series and what it was like working Cillian Murphy again?
SK: Always great to work with Cillian, because he’s not only just a brilliant actor, but he leads the line. He’s such a professional, all those things, et cetera, et cetera, but all true with him. I wanted the character to have done something, because Tommy Shelby’s done some bad things over the years, but I wanted to find him, and he’s done something that he cannot forgive himself for, and it’s to do with his family. That guilt is a new thing. Then, I wanted to offer him the opportunity of redemption, the opportunity to be forgiven for what he’s done by doing something good. It’s something good for his son, but it’s also something good for the country. Both acts, both things are done by the same action, which is how the film ends. When you’ve got actors like this that are so good, you can be quite bold in the scope of the emotional territory you’re going for.
(L to R) Cillian Murphy and Steven Knight are reunited on set as production officially starts on the upcoming Netflix film.
MF: Tim, what was your experience like working with Steven and director Tom Harper on this project?
TR: They gave us the space, which is a rarity nowadays, especially. Usually, all screen time is taken up with people speaking, or the music, or both. Cillian was talking about this this morning. You never get moments of silence to play. It’s a very rare thing now. I mean, there’s a history of that in the show and in the film. It rears its head well. So, we could watch each other without it being cut. We could just take the time. I think that makes it more cinematic, and a more beautifully told story. I wish it was in the cinemas longer, I must say. But there’s a community out there and they got it now. So, they get paid back and it’s lovely.
MF: Finally, Steven, as you know, fans of the series are very excited for this movie to finally be released. Have you felt that fan anticipation since the series ended?
SK: I mean, the fans have been the engine of this whole thing. They’ve been the energy behind it. It was not massively publicized when it first started. It wasn’t promoted heavily. Fans found it. I think when people find something for themselves, it increases the loyalty to it and people get evangelical about it. They want other people to know how good it is. So that’s what happened with this. We really wanted the energy of the fans to not diminish. So, we knew there was a timescale to this. We wanted to get the film out there. But what I have noticed is there was a lot of anticipation, people who wanted it. But something new has happened. There’s an increasing amount of energy and fandom going on with the film. Like back home in England, you can’t get a ticket. It’s sold out everywhere and in Birmingham, there’s a cinema that’s doing four shows a day, starting at 8:00 AM, and you still can’t get a ticket. So, what we wanted to do from the very beginning was reward the fans with a film that’s in theaters where people can go and watch it together. They can dress accordingly if they wish but share the emotion at the end. That’s what’s happening, so there’s a new level now.
What is the plot of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’?
After his estranged son (Barry Keoghan) gets embroiled in a Nazi plot, self-exiled gangster Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) must return to Birmingham to save his family — and his nation.
Who is in the cast of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’?
Cast and Crew attend the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix.
1) Cillian Murphy Says The Film Needed To Justify Itself If They Were Going To Make It
Cillian Murphy attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images for Netflix.
Fans are thrilled to see Tommy Shelby return to the screen, but star Cillian Murphy says he was not going to come back unless the movie was justified.
Cillian Murphy: The luxury of having played him for so long is that all the research is kind of done. You’ve got 13 years of it there. You’ve lived alongside him and you’ve aged alongside him. I’ll never experience that again; it’s really unique. But like the lads were saying, we wanted to make something that would justify its existence. The TV show was so successful and became deeper as it went, so the film needed to justify itself. When we figured out the thematic drive was “family”—a father and son story introducing Duke—we knew we were on the right track.
2) Steven Knight Always Wanted ‘Peaky Blinders’ To End With A Movie
Steven Knight attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix.
‘Peaky Blinders’ writer and producer admits that his plan was always to end with a movie, during this time period, telling this story.
Steven Knight: I’ve discovered recently that I did an interview after the first series where I said confidently, “We’re going to end this in the Second World War and it’s going to be a movie.” And here we are. I mean, it was very arrogant of me to imagine that would happen, but it’s happened. I always wanted to end it this way—always wanted to end it in Birmingham as the bombs drop. And I think that what we have done is ended this part of the story in a quite magnificent way.
3) Barry Keoghan Has Wanted To Be A Part Of ‘Peaky Blinders’ For Years
Actor Barry Keoghan joins the cast of ‘Peaky Blinders’ in this film, but this is something he has wanted for years.
Barry Keoghan: Yeah, it was mad. I remember the screen test, seeing Cillian as Tommy Shelby. It was the first time I’d seen him in person as Tommy Shelby, just looking at me. I was like, “Look at me, I’m new to this!” It’s iconic. I’ve wanted to be part of the TV show or movie for years. I’ve had the “haircut” for about 10 years in my personal life, and I get mistaken that I’m in it already! It’s ironic, isn’t it? But it’s such an honor. It is nerve-wracking and exciting, and there is this anticipation… you just hope you do well.
4) Tim Roth Did Not Watch ‘Peaky Blinders’ Before Filming ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’
Tim Roth attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix.
Tim Roth also joins the cast in the new film, but he approached the role by purposefully not watching the series.
Tim Roth: When I was asked to do it, I hadn’t seen it, but I’d heard about it. I bumped into them when they were filming once and they looked like they were having a lot more fun than I was at the time! But I made the decision not to watch it before joining. I think I would have been more nervous if I’d seen it, to be honest. I came in completely fresh and you walk through this “family door.” More importantly to me, it felt like they were taking it seriously—what Tom and Steve were up to was making a real movie. Full on. The only green screen you saw was to keep the skyscrapers out of the background.
5) Rebecca Ferguson Was Drawn To This Film For Several Reasons
Rebecca Ferguson attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Netflix.
When asked what it was about ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ that pulled Rebecca Ferguson in, she admits it was not just one thing, but many.
Rebecca Ferguson: It’s never one thing. It’s how they all tie together. Steven’s script was so dynamic and challenging. Anything disruptive is interesting in an established environment. My character comes from the outside; she sounds different, she acts differently, but there is a thematic connection. She’s another hurdle for them.
Cast and Crew attend the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix.
What is the plot of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’?
Birmingham, 1940. Amidst the chaos of WWII, Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground. By order of the Peaky Blinders….
Who is in the cast of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’?
Ever since Tommy Shelby rode off into the sunset to start a new life in ‘Peaky Blinders‘ fans have been asking for more. This is certainly one of Cillian Murphy’s most memorable roles and so seeing him return to the franchise for one last hurrah is nothing short of exciting. With a title as well loved as this one, it was important for ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ to fit into this world and feel warranted, rather than a cash grab. Thankfully, from just the first few minutes, it was clear this film was made to complete the story – and it does just that.
Director Tom Harper worked on the first season of ‘Peaky Blinders’ so it was only fitting to see him return to direct ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’. He knew this world already, even if it had been a while since he was immersed in it, and he does a brilliant job weaving in new characters and celebrating the old ones.
Storywise, this movie is brilliant. Even though the series felt wrapped up enough, there were certainly some unanswered questions and longing to know what happened down the line for Tommy Shelby. ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ does a great job of not only providing these answers, but delivering an interesting, entertaining, and action-packed story. It is important to mention that the emotional moments are always allowed to breath. They are never overshadowed by the action.
Cillian Murphy was born to play Tommy Shelby. Fans of the series already know this but for those that were not convinced yet, ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ solidifies it. He is absolutely brilliant in this film. He knows this character inside and out, and is a natural on screen.
Barry Keoghan, who plays Tommy’s gypsy son Duke, is a great addition to this world. He is a talented actor who always gives one hundred and ten percent to his roles, and this is no exception. He fits into this world perfectly, and his scenes opposite Cillian Murphy ooze with chemistry. The two of them are brilliant together.
Then there is Rebecca Ferguson. Another fantastic actor who never phones in a performance. She also fits into this world well. We meet her early on and it is impossible not to relate to her from that very moment.
‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ is sure to make fans of the series very happy. It continues Tommy Shelby’s story, picking up a few years down the road from the series finale, in a way that, simpy put, just makes sense. Everything comes back around to the beginning, bringing this story full circle. It is well acted, well shot, and will have viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ receives a score of 87 out of 100.
What is the plot of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’?
Birmingham, 1940. Amidst the chaos of WWII, Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground. By order of the Peaky Blinders….
Who is in the cast of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’?
