Peaky Blinders Movie’s Tommy Shelby Replacement & Why Cillian Murphy’s Character Returns Teased by Creator

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In the finale of Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby seemed to escape his troubled history, looking towards a brighter future. However, the new film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, reveals something has pulled him back into that life. Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy, alongside some new cast members. The show’s creator has hinted at both Tommy’s successor and the reason for his return, and these revelations are sure to spark discussion among fans.

Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, and director Tom Harper recently shared details about what compels Tommy Shelby to return. According to Knight, events force Tommy back into action, requiring him to pick up arms again, much like a classic Western hero. With the future of the Shelby family and the nation hanging in the balance (according to Netflix), Tommy’s return is also deeply personal, as he’ll be confronting his past and what his legacy will be. It sounds like his motivations are complex and multi-layered.

Harper explained how the film visually represents Tommy’s initial return. She noted that the movie starts with a very quiet, isolated, and lonely feel, which is reflected in the camera work, overall design, and atmosphere.

Peaky Blinders Will Reveal Tommy Shelby’s Replacement…But Who Is It?

A major addition to the cast is Barry Keoghan, and although his character’s role is currently unknown, clues suggest he’ll be taking over Tommy Shelby’s position within the Peaky Blinders organization. One significant hint is that Keoghan gets to deliver the show’s iconic line, “By order of the Peaky Blinders.” Creator Steven Knight is keeping details closely guarded; when asked about Keoghan’s character, Knight immediately presented embargo agreements to those present.

Harper shared some details about Keoghan’s potential role and what’s been happening with the Peaky Blinders while Tommy has been away. The filmmakers rebuilt the Garrison pub for the movie, and explained that this new iteration of the gang is largely led by a younger group. Based on what Harper said and a recent image, it seems likely that Keoghan will be taking over as the leader of the Peaky Blinders – or at least leading this new generation of the gang.

Harper noted it had been eight years since anyone had seen the Garrison pub. Tommy Shelby hadn’t been around, and now the pub was being run by a new, younger group of people, many of whom hadn’t even met the previous owners and regulars.

This connects to what Keoghan shared about the project and his fondness for the original series. He was surprised to be the one delivering such a famous line, saying, “It feels like I shouldn’t even be allowed to say it – it’s that iconic.” Keoghan also explained he’s been a long-time fan of the show, but opportunities to join the cast never materialized. He’d always hoped to be involved, but scheduling conflicts or not quite fitting the role previously prevented it.

The new film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, will be shown in some cinemas starting March 6, 2026, before becoming available to stream on Netflix from March 20, 2026.

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2025-12-20 03:14