Peaky Blinders‘ original writing and directing team will be returning alongside Cillian Murphy for the Netflix film adaptation of the hit British series, the streaming service has confirmed.
Cillian, 48, will be reprising his role as Thomas Shelby in the period crime drama, set in late 1910s to early 1930s Birmingham, with the show’s creator Steven Knight and Tom Harper again writing and directing respectively.
Netflix confirmed the news on X with a photograph of the script, while the Oscar winning actor told Deadline: ‘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.’
Tom shared: ‘When I first directed Peaky Blinders over 10 years ago, we didn’t know what the series would become, but we did know that there was something in the alchemy of the cast and the writing that felt explosive.
Peaky Blinders’ original writing and directing team will be returning alongside Cillian Murphy, (pictured) for the programme’s Netflix film adaptation, the streaming service confirmed
Cillian, 48, will be reprising his role as Thomas Shelby (pictured) in the period crime drama, set in late 1910s to early 1930s Birmingham, with the show’s creator Steven Knight and Tom Harper again writing and directing respectively
Netflix confirmed the news on X with a photograph of the script, while the Oscar winning actor told Deadline : ‘It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn’t finished with me…’
‘Peaky has always been a story about family – and so it’s incredibly exciting to be reuniting with Steve and Cillian to bring the movie to audiences across the world on Netflix.’
While Steven added: ‘I’m genuinely thrilled that this movie is about to happen. It will be an explosive chapter in the Peaky Blinders story. No holds barred. Full-on Peaky Blinders at war.’
In March, Steven thrilled fans after he confirmed Cillian would star in the film during an appearance at BirminghamWorld for the premiere of his BBC show This Town.
He said: ‘[Cillian] is definitely returning for it. We’re shooting it in September just down the road in Digbeth.’
The film is set to begin filming at Digbeth Loc Studios in Birmingham in September, and will be set during the Second World War.
On the prospect of returning to the role of Thomas Shelby, Cillian previously told Rolling Stone last year: ‘If there’s more story there, I’d love to do it. But it has to be right.
‘Steve Knight wrote 36 hours of television, and we left on such a high. I’m really proud of that last series. So, it would have to feel legitimate and justified to do more.
Echoing these sentiments on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in February, Cillian said: ‘I have always said that if Knight delivers a script that I know he can deliver, because he is such a phenomenal writer, I’ll be there.
Writer Steven revealed: ‘I’m genuinely thrilled that this movie is about to happen. It will be an explosive chapter in the Peaky Blinders story. No holds barred. Full on Peaky Blinders at war’
Director Tom said: ‘Peaky has always been a story about family and so it’s incredibly exciting to be reuniting with Steve and Cillian to bring the movie to audiences across the world on Netflix’
Cillian previously shared: ‘I have always said that if Knight delivers a script that I know he can deliver, because he is such a phenomenal writer, I’ll be there. If we want to watch 50-year-old Tommy Shelby, I will be there. Let’s do it’
He hilariously added: ‘If we want to watch 50-year-old Tommy Shelby, I will be there. Let’s do it.’
Cillian did admit he was ‘relieved’ when the BBC drama ended in 2022 – but emphasised he is now ‘totally’ on board with a movie adaptation.
After he won his first Academy Award in March, Cillian said of his character Tommy: ‘I loved playing him. He was exhausting and so wildly different for me that each time going back was kind of a journey.
‘I’m really not sentimental about work. I feel like the next thing is the most exciting thing. And I mean, it was a ten-year period in my life, so it is significant, but I always feel, like, let’s keep moving.’
Cillian was awarded with the Oscar for Best Actor at the 96th Academy Awards for his performance as the titular character in Christopher Nolan’s biopic Oppenheimer.
In his acceptance speech, Cillian told the star-studded room that he was ‘a very proud Irishman standing here tonight’ before dedicating his win to ‘peacemakers everywhere’.
The Irish actor has also hinted that Steven has more stories to tell about the Birmingham-based Shelby clan and their criminal activities between the 1880s and 1910s.
Peaky Blinders launched in 2013 and garnered huge audiences both in Britain and overseas, attracting roles for silver-screen stars such as Tom Hardy and Anya Taylor-Joy.
The movie is set to begin filming at Digbeth Loc Studios in Birmingham in September, and will be set during the Second World War
The programme is loosely based on a real Birmingham gang of the same name operating from the 1880s to the 1920s who did the same illegal activities their fictional counterparts did.
Peaky Blinders aired six series over nine years and ended with Tommy, who had been tricked into believing he had a terminal illness, surviving an assassination attempt orchestrated by his own nephew before killing him and moving away for a new life.
But the news sparks concerns for the welfare of Paul Anderson who plays Cillian’s older brother in the show, Arthur Shelby, after he pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine earlier this year.
The 45-year-old was also found to have amphetamines, plus diazepam and pregabalin on him.
His continued erratic behaviour in recent months has prompted concern for his welfare.
One local shopkeeper, who counts Paul as a friend, told MailOnline: ‘It’s heartbreaking. He’s a mess. But his erratic behaviour is causing real problems. He often seems dazed and not with it.
‘He’s had arguments with people locally. He walks around making a lot of noise. We are all apprehensive. He had a big argument in Tesco a few weeks ago.
‘He is living like he is on another planet. He’s been in public topless. He struggles to walk. It’s a great concern. He looks out of control. It’s tragic.’
But last week it seemed the actor was clearing up his act – quite literally – as he ventured out in London to Tesco and bought various cleaning products, among them shampoo, Dove deodorant, kitchen roll and Vanish stain remover.
But the news sparks concerns for the welfare of Paul Anderson after he pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine earlier this year (pictured in 2016)
The 45-year-old – who plays Cillian’s older brother in the show, Arthur Shelby (pictured – has prompted concern for his welfare with his continued erratic behaviour in recent months
