Peaky Blinders season six landed on the BBC all the way back in 2022, marking the end of the show as we knew it. Thankfully, the Shelbys aren't disappearing forever, because an *actual* Peaky Blinders film is coming.
Series creator Steven Knight has confirmed that "the story will continue in another form" following the multi-series format, with many familiar faces returning for a feature-length follow up. Here's everything we know about the Peaky Blinders film so far...
When did the Peaky Blinders film started shooting?
The film was meant to start production in 2023, according to reports from Variety, but it was eventually pushed to September 2024, when creator Steven Knight shared a first look photo of Cillian Murphy on set to announce filming had started.
Alongside the photo, which showed Tommy Shelby with greying hair walking away from camera, he said, "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.”
The film's director Tom Harper added, "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."
Peaky Blinders film cast
So far, the confirmed returning cast includes:
- Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby
- Stephen Graham (Matilda, Boiling Point) as Hayden Stagg
- Sophie Rundle (After the Flood, Gentleman Jack) as Ada Thorne
- Ned Dennehy (Culprits, The Peripheral) as Uncle Charlie
- Packy Lee (Blue Lights) as Tommy Dogs
- Ian Peck (His Dark Materials, Robin Hood) as Curly
Also joining the cast as new Peaky Blinders characters:
- Dune's Rebecca Ferguson
- Barry Keoghan from Saltburn and The Banshees of Inisherin
- Tim Roth from Reservoir Dogs and The Hateful Eight
- Jay Lycurgo from Steve and Half Bad: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself
The Peaky Blinders movie full cast list is yet to be revealed, but we'd hope to see some of the show's most recognisable faces returning for the film. Plus, some other pretty big names have been thrown into the mix, too.
He first confirmed Cillian Murphy would indeed return as Tommy Shelby in a March 2024 interview with BirminghamWorld, saying, "He definitely is returning for it. We're shooting it in September just down the road in Digbeth."
Speaking of his return, Cillian told Netflix in June 2024, "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."
Plus, there's even more excitement, as Tom Holland has spoken about joining the Peaky world too. In an interview with LADbible, he revealed, "I actually auditioned for Peaky Blinders and I did not get the part." Addressing Tom's comments at the premiere, Knight then told PA news agency, "It must have been quite a big role he was auditioning for. But if he wants to come back for the film, we’ll have him."
Tom, your call.
What else has creator Steven Knight said about the Peaky Blinders film?
Speaking to NME in April 2024, Steven teased that fans would be "shocked" by the plot of the movie, in part because of an increase in budget and production values. "I think the film is gonna be a step up again, and it's gonna be great that Peaky fans can meet in one place and watch it," he shared. "The budget will be bigger, but also because we know we're ending this chapter, we're all going to try to do our best."
On how it will feel like a rollercoaster of emotions, he added, "I hope [they'll be] shocked and delighted and horrified and then delighted again and then shocked again!"
Back in July 2022, the series' creator told Heart Breakfast, "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. We’re going to shoot it at the studios in Digbeth, and on location in Digbeth in Birmingham. Digbeth and Small Heath is where the Peaky Blinders actually roamed. So it’s like Peaky’s coming home basically."
Previously, he'd been pretty vocal about his plans for a Peaky Blinders film, telling Deadline back in January 2021, "Covid changed our plans. But I can say that my plan from the beginning was to end Peaky with a movie. That is what is going to happen."
On a separate occasion, Knight confirmed to the publication that "the story will continue in another form." Discussing series six, he said, "Peaky is back and with a bang. After the enforced production delay due to the Covid pandemic, we find the family in extreme jeopardy and the stakes have never been higher. We believe this will be the best series of all and are sure that our amazing fans will love it. While the TV series will be coming to an end, the story will continue in another form."
What could happen in the Peaky Blinders film?
Following the Peaky Blinders season six finale (which aired in April 2022), fans have been speculating about what might happen next in the Peaky Blinders film.
While much of the plot is yet to be revealed, Steven Knight has given away a few details over what could take place in the Peaky Blinders movie - revealing that it will be set during the Second World War.
He told the Radio Times, "I know what's going to happen in those stories and it's about a sort of untold story that happened in the Second World War, which Peakys are going to be involved in."
What's more, he revealed that character Polly Gray (played by the late Helen McCrory) will still be a presence in the film. Asked whether her impact will still be felt in the movie, he told the publication, "Absolutely. She’s such a fundamental part of what Peaky is; her presence rules."
As for the rest of the plot, the season six finale revealed that Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) is in fact not terminally ill with tuberculoma, instead seemingly riding off into the sunset to start a new life with his wife and son.
What's the Peaky Blinders film's expected release date?
Sadly, there isn't a confirmed release date for the Peaky Blinders film just yet. However, with the project set to start production in 2024, we won't be expecting the movie to hit screens for a while. But fans are hoping it might arrive in 2025. Something to look forward to!
