Peaky Blinders may have ended on its sixth season, but the story is far from over, as an “epilogue” movie is in the works and set to begin filming in mid-2024.
Many fans of historical dramas highly recommend Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders, the historical BBC show about gangsters in 1920s England that captivated audiences upon its release in 2013. At the time, many were familiar with media about mobsters in the United States, the Godfather trilogy being a classic in the film canon. Yet not a lot of people got a glimpse into the crime-filled life of those that ruled Birmingham’s underground.
Even before his Oppenheimer fame, Cillian Murphy stunned with his acting chops as he played cunning gang leader Tommy Shelby to perfection. As with many crime dramas, the allure of the show lies not only in its interesting, history-based story, but the compelling inner lives and humanity of even the most antagonistic characters.
A Movie In the Works
The show ran until 2022, ending with a sixth season that The Guardian’s Sarah Hughes describes as a “gut-wrenching and beautifully directed climax.” However, fans later found out that it wasn’t the end of Peaky Blinders. Steven Knight officially announced an upcoming movie shortly after the show’s finale. “Yes, I’m writing it right now,” he said in a July 2022 interview for the Heart Breakfast Show. “I’m nearly done writing it, and I’m setting up some film and television studios in Digbeth in Birmingham.”
However, recent updates reveal that Knight is still polishing the final script, as per Town & Country. During an interview with Radio Times in December 2023, the creator gave a new timeline, stating that filming should begin in the “middle of next year” [2024]. The year has finally started, and if the film production stays on track, it’ll soon become a reality.
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Unfinished Business
Without spoiling anything for those interested in catching up, Peaky Blinders‘ final season contained plenty of revelations, character development, and of course, its fare of grim and gritty narratives. Yet the show’s finale elicited mixed reactions from audiences. Some believed it was an apt and satisfying one for the show, while others pointed out plot lines and an overarching story that didn’t result in a complete conclusion. Though in fairness, season six was never meant to be the show’s final one.
According to Jon Hornbuckle of Time Out, filming restrictions during the COVID pandemic led to the removal of a season seven. Yet all was not lost with the announcement of a movie, though only vague details about its overarching narrative have surfaced.
What to Know About the Upcoming Film
As per Screenrant, Knight has confirmed that the film will take place during World War II. However, seeing as how season six finished in the 1930s, events of the movie may not be a direct continuation of those in the show. Though it’s certainly a sequel of sorts, Knight has also kept details of its premise a secret. According to CBR, the creator asks viewers to “expect the unexpected” as he ventures into new territory and arcs.
Town & Country’s feature also reports that Knight has confirmed the return of Cillian Murphy as Tommy and Paul Anderson as his brother, Arthur. As for the rest of the cast, fans can expect new faces joining familiar ones—though no other names have been announced yet. Regardless of their thoughts on season six, it seems like audiences have much to look forward to with a potentially exciting ride once the movie is out.
Banner photo by Robert Viglasky via Instagram @peakyblindersofficial.
