On the 12th September 2013, the Peaky Blinders was born onto our screens. A cocktail of war, bloodshed, family ties and crime was shaken and blended for viewing pleasure – and it spilled across the world with a ferocity. Soon, everyone would come to know the dealings of Tommy Shelby and his fearsome gang. And so, for showrunner Steven Knight, it was vital that his story end as it once began: in fire, brimstone and with peak Peaky shenanigans.
Knight has seemingly been set on a filmic conclusion for some time, with director Tom Harper recalling that he ‘spoke to me after season 1 about doing the movie.’ But this film would reintroduce Tommy Shelby in a new light. Battered by loss and the beginnings of World War II, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man sees him ‘broken… and living in this purgatory he’s created for himself,’ says Cillian Murphy. Not wanting the audience to be met with the man they all know, ‘you had to earn it’ remarks Cillian. The so-called Immortal Man’s legacy will always endure – but this time, audiences will get to delight in his journey back to former glory.
The Peaky story has always been bookmarked by the barrages of war, in every sense of the word – and the film continues on this legacy. Injecting his own family’s experiences into the movie, Knight recalls that, for the plot ‘I wanted to use the bombing of the BSA Foundry, because it’s a real event in 1940.’ It is this level of gritty realism that has made Peaky so heralded – and so devastating to watch. And, as Murphy remarks, ‘the setting of the film… means that his [Tommy’s] values are being tested all the time.’
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man will also be welcoming a new dawn, as newcomers are embraced into the family. Barry Keoghan is set to step into the scene – both as the new leader of the Peaky Blinders, and as Tommy’s illegitimate son. In an exclusive with GYCO, Keoghan explained how his own experiences filtered into his performance. ‘The absence of my dad… the echoes I’ve heard of him… it humanises Duke, for me, to show those vulnerabilities.’ And, as fans of Keoghan will know, his trademark explosivity will take center-stage once more. ‘Barry has that thing you can’t learn… which is this onscreen charisma… you can’t take your eyes off of him,’ Murphy highlights.
Other new arrivals include the legendary talents of both Tim Roth and Rebecca Ferguson. Tim Roth, who had never seen the show, is set to play Beckett, Treasurer of the British Union of Fascists – and Tommy’s main adversary. ‘Not a toff… more like an equal of Tommy,’ as Murphy describes. Ferguson will be bringing an additional element, a newfound spiritual side to the world of Peaky. Stepping into the shoes of Kaulo, sister of Tommy’s former lover Zelda, Ferguson states that ‘Kaulo comes from the outside, she’s a bit otherworldly.’ She also hints at ripples of danger to come, identifying Kaulo as ‘a Lady Macbeth character… she’s behind the scenes… trying to manipulate Tommy.’
Realism and grit matter in period pieces – and Peaky’s production team know that more than most. ‘Anything is possible in filmmaking now, with visual effects, with AI, so being human is more important than ever,’ comments Harper, a statement which highlights the necessity of human input. Tim Roth remember being greatly pleased to be on set ‘to see that it was not relying on CG,’ adding further that ‘it didn’t have that laziness about it. It had ambition.’ In a world where films are barraged with heavy-duty visual effects and non-natural augmentation, Peaky is making a statement for cinema as a human art.
It is clear that the family upholding the Peaky Blinders legacy are committed to delivering a cinematic finish, worthy of Tommy Shelby’s endeavours. ‘It’s a film that’s going to be incredibly exciting for audiences to watch,’ comments Harper. But, alongside the double-dealings, gunfights and large set-pieces, The Immortal Man is going back to the heart of the show.
‘The main thematic drive of the show has always been family,’ says Murphy. Later, he adds that ‘that’s where the heart of cinema lies at the moment, in the things that make it human – that’s always been the Shelby story.’ It is clear that fans can expect the movie to bring a fiery conclusion to a tale that’s titillated viewers for over a decade. But, most importantly, it will remind us why the Peaky family shall always remain beloved by so many.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is out now in select cinemas, and will be available to stream on Netflix from March 20th.
