- A Peaky Blinders sequel series is in the works at Netflix and BBC
- Two seasons made up of six episodes each have been greenlit, with Cillian Murphy executive producing
- The show follows a new generation of Shelbys in 1953 during Birmingham’s reconstruction after World War 2
Not only is Netflix giving us the Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Man, but the streamer has announced (in partnership with BBC) a sequel series, which has already been greenlit for two seasons.
As the BBC’s synopsis explains: “Britain, 1953. After being heavily bombed in WWII, Birmingham is building a better future out of concrete and steel. In a new era of Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders, the race to own Birmingham’s massive reconstruction project becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions.
“This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and danger: with the Shelby family right at its blood-soaked heart.”
To paraphrase the youth, I’m so sat that my mom is asking me to get up from the sofa. But we shouldn’t be too surprised; Knight already confirmed the “world would continue” after the movie, and another binge-worthy show in the franchise makes the most sense.
If anything, it’s Cillian Murphy’s role shift that’s the most surprising. Having been the lead in the original series and set to reprise his role in the movie, he’s not actually going to be on screen in the sequel – and this could make or break its success.
Opinion: Can the Peaky Blinders sequel succeed without Cillian Murphy? I’m not so sure
Originally, Murphy played Tommy Shelby, patriarch of the Shelby family and the leader of the Peaky Blinders gang (hence where the title comes from). Shelby served in WW1, took on the New York mafia and became a Labour MP in the aftermath of the series. But in the sequel seasons, Murphy isn’t reprising his role – he’s set to be the executive producer.
Would we really expect to see him almost 10 years after the end of WWII? Frankly, I think it would be a miracle if he was still alive. We’re yet to find out when The Immortal Man is set, but I’d guess the new movie would be much closer in time to the main series.
Logically, it makes complete sense for Murphy not to be starring, but he’s so synonymous with the show that I’m not sure if one works without the other. He’s one of the main characters we tuned in for, and it’s not like we’ve got much of the past to hang onto (RIP, Helen McCrory).
However, there are two positives we should hold onto: Murphy as a producer means the two new seasons should have a good sense of continuity, as his involvement ties the two shows naturally together – even if he’s no longer on screen.
We’ve also got the potential success of the movie. If The Immortal Man is a hit, there’s potential for its new characters to be picked up in the sequel seasons (depending on when it is set). We know Barry Keoghan will be one of these, and it’s not exactly a bad look to get him involved with any project (except maybe any by Sabrina Carpenter).
I’m completely clutching at straws here, seeing everything we know about the Peaky Blinders sequel is limited. But for fellow Murphy-heads, there is hope – and hey, if it all goes wrong, at least we’ve got his appearance in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
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