Peaky Blinders creator reveals plan for Arthur Shelby changed while writing The Immortal Man: “Everything falls apart after that”

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*Spoiler warning for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man*

A major question for viewers of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ was how the story would continue without Arthur Shelby Jr. (Paul Anderson), a key character in the series.

The oldest Shelby brother was known for being aggressive and causing problems, often making life difficult for his younger brother, Tommy (Cillian Murphy).

The sixth season of Peaky Blinders concluded with Arthur surviving, though deeply saddened by his brother Tommy’s absence.

Okay, so right from the start of The Immortal Man, things are seriously weird. We find out Arthur is actually dead and buried in Tommy’s garden! The film initially makes you wonder if it was suicide, or if maybe there was a fight that went too far – it’s left pretty ambiguous at first.

As the film goes on, we discover a much darker truth…

Knight admitted on The Immortal Man podcast, as reported by TUDUM, that he’d been putting off saying it for a long time.

He explained that sometimes, while writing, you suddenly understand the motivations behind your characters. He’d been writing about a strong feeling of guilt, and then realized, ‘That’s why the character feels so guilty—because he’s the one responsible.’

In the movie, Tommy confesses to his deceased sister, Ada, that he intentionally caused Arthur’s death – it wasn’t an accident.

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According to Knight, family has always been the most important thing to Tommy Shelby. But now, having shot his own brother, everything has crumbled. He’s destroyed everything he believed in and everything he stood for, losing it all in a single act.

Of course, actor Paul Anderson has had thoughts on what happened to Arthur.

Elsewhere, there’s a lot to dig into regarding the end of the film in its entirety – so strap in.

  • 10 Peaky Blinders questions we have after THAT ending to The Immortal Man
  • Peaky Blinders movie star Rebecca Ferguson reveals whether enigmatic Kaulo could return
  • Peaky Blinders creator talks contemporary importance of Tommy Shelby fighting fascism: “Look what happened last time”
  • Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man review – Big screen spin-off keeps a firm red right hand on proceedings
  • Steven Knight explains how Peaky Blinders film ended up quite different from his initial plans

You can now watch Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man on Netflix! Subscriptions start at just £5.99 per month, and Netflix is also accessible through Sky Glass and Virgin Media.

Don’t miss “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man”! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor

Lewis leads news and trending content at TopMob, ensuring we deliver what our audience wants. He’s a huge fan of TV and movies, especially anything with Nicole Kidman, but also loves sci-fi, independent films, and the latest shows on HBO. With a background in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies, Lewis previously worked in advertising before spending three years at The Mirror, where he focused on community management, SEO, and reporting on showbiz, film, and television.

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2026-03-22 14:04