The gritty British gangster saga Peaky Blinders is officially razor-capping its way to the big screen at Netflix. The streaming giant has greenlit a feature film continuing the story of Tommy Shelby and his notorious crime family, with Cillian Murphy set to reprise his iconic leading role.
Creator Steven Knight will pen the screenplay, while director Tom Harper, who helmed part of the show’s first season, takes the reins behind the camera. The project marks a long-awaited culmination for the buzzy series, which bid farewell last year after six gripping seasons on the BBC and Netflix.
“I’m genuinely thrilled that this movie is about to happen,” Knight proclaimed. “It will be an explosive chapter in the Peaky Blinders story. No holds barred. Full-on Peaky Blinders at war.”
While specific plot details remain closely guarded, the film has been confirmed to take place against the backdrop of World War II – uncharted territory for the historically-inspired saga. This context suggests Birmingham’s most feared gangsters may find themselves facing battles on multiple fronts as they contend with the era’s harsh realities.
Tommy Shelby returns. A Peaky Blinders Film starring Cillian Murphy is coming to Netflix.
“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… pic.twitter.com/eBSYnKqGpA
— Netflix (@netflix) June 4, 2024
“It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn’t finished with me,” said Murphy, who has embodied the hard-boiled antihero since Peaky Blinders’ 2013 premiere. “It is very gratifying to be recollaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version…This is one for the fans.”
Indeed, the long-gestating movie should deliver a gratifying payoff for Peaky’s diehard cult following, who have hungered for the Shelby family’s audacious exploits to make the leap to the silver screen. Harper echoed the significance, reflecting, “When I first directed Peaky Blinders over 10 years ago, we didn’t know what the series would become, but we did know there was something explosive in that cast and writing.”
Filming on the hotly-anticipated production is targeted to commence later this year, likely in Birmingham and other parts of the UK key to replicating the show’s immersive period setting and hard-edged ambiance. An exact release window hasn’t been set, though insiders speculate a spring or summer 2025 premiere could be in the offing.
Regardless of the precise date, the Peaky Blinders’s cinematic culmination shapes up to be a must-watch streaming event. With its gritty blend of pulpy drama, arresting visuals, and magnetic antihero center, the movie should prove a quintessential Netflix binge before that iconic razor-trimmed cap is hung up for good.
