Recent news about the Peaky Blinders movie’s production alleviates worries about the highly-anticipated movie sequel. A movie sequel to Peaky Blinders has been confirmed in development, with the show’s star and now Academy Award-winning actor Cillian Murphy set to return to his iconic role as Thomas Shelby. After six seasons, the period crime drama concluded with a powerful yet ambiguous ending regarding Tommy’s future, surviving when many viewers anticipated the series would end with his death, akin to anti-hero crime dramas of a similar ilk like Breaking Bad.
The Peaky Blinders TV ending was excellent, but no one’s going to complain about having a couple more hours of Thomas Shelby in their lives. Tommy’s survival means the story can conclude in an epic, cinematic fashion. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight confirmed the film would begin shooting in September in an interview with NME. There aren’t many more details available currently, though there’s plenty to speculate on, given the show’s ending.
When speaking about the Peaky Blinders movie, Steven Knight ensured that the budget would be on a grander scale than the TV show. This is fantastic news for a television sequel movie, as it’s vital that the film not just feel like an extended episode of the TV show. If Peaky Blinders is going to be put on the big screen, it should feel like a cinematic event. The production having a bigger budget is a terrific sign for the movie, meaning it can offer the true, action-packed climax the saga deserves. Read Steven Knight’s full quote below:
Still, a transition from television to film is more difficult than one might assume. There are some great movies that expand on TV shows, like Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me or Serenity, but there are also flops that conflict with the tone of the series, like The Many Saints Of Newark. Peaky Blinders has the advantage of being a recent series, meaning it can shift fluidly into the film format without requiring much change. The Peaky Blinders movie has to justify being a movie rather than just doing more episodes, and a bigger budget is a great sign.
There are many narrative options for the Peaky Blinders movie involving antagonists left alive like Finn, Oswald Mosley, and Gina Grey. Not to mention, the show’s timeline was leading into World War II, opening infinite possibilities for the direction Knight could take in concluding the Shelby family story. As for what’s actually going to happen, plot details regarding the film have yet to be revealed, and it’s unclear which stars will return, as Cillian Murphy is the only Peaky Blinders cast member currently attached to the project.
Sources: NME