Cillian Murphy to Return for "Peaky Blinders" Movie

Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy is set to reprise his role in the BBC hit franchise when the Peaky Blinders feature-length movie begins production later this year, the creator of the show has confirmed.

The Oppenheimer star, whose streak of awards season wins this year culminated with him taking home the Best Actor Oscar at this month’s Academy Awards, starred in the hit BBC period crime series as Tommy Shelby, leader of the titular street gang. 

The news that he would reprise the role in the movie sequel was confirmed by creator Steven Knight during a red carpet interview at the premiere of his new BBC series, "This Town".

“He definitely is returning for it. We’re shooting it in September just down the road in Digbeth,” Knight, referring to the area of central Birmingham, told Birmingham World.

While speaking with the publication, Knight also praised Murphy for his talent and professionalism after the actor tore through awards season, winning multiple acting honors for his performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s Best Picture winner.

“It was so deserved. I mean he’s brilliant, and he’s such a great human being and he leads the line when we’re shooting and he’s so level-headed and straightforward,” Knight added. “He deserves everything he gets.”

Murphy recently spoke of his interest in reprising his role as violent gang leader Shelby during his guest spot on the BBC radio show Desert Island Discs.

“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,” Murphy commented. “If we want to watch 50-year-old Tommy Shelby, let’s do it.”

Peaky Blinders’ storyline begins in 1919 during the months immediately following WWI and jumps years ahead during its final two seasons, from 1925 to 1929, and then to 1933. 

In 2021, when it was announced that the series' sixth season would be the story’s final chapter on television, Knight hinted at a movie, saying that “the story will continue in another form,” which he revealed more about ahead of the premiere of the show’s final season.

““Peaky — in this incarnation — comes to an end,” Knight told reporters in 2022. “But we’re doing a film which will also carry on the family and the stories into the second World War.”