The Peaky Blinders story will not end with the recently released feature film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. The show’s creator, Steven Knight, has confirmed that a sequel series is in development, which will focus on a new generation of Shelbys. The drama will continue the story beyond the events of the film, set in post-war Birmingham following the aftermath of World War II, with a new wave of Birmingham gangsters at the forefront of the narrative.
Will Tommy Shelby feature in the sequel series?
Knight has announced that Netflix has greenlit the continuation of the Peaky Blinders story with a sequel series, which will span two seasons comprising six episodes each. The sequel will be set in 1950s Birmingham, a city still reeling from the aftereffects of heavy bombardment during World War II. A massive reconstruction effort is underway, setting the stage for a brutal contest between rival gangs, with the Shelby family at the heart of it.
“Britain, 1953. After being heavily bombed in World War II, 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,” Netflix’s official announcement reads.
As new power struggles and opportunities emerge from Birmingham’s reconstruction boom, the new series is set to be a “h—of a ride,” Knight has said. Cillian Murphy, who plays the main protagonist of the original series, Tommy Shelby, will serve as an executive producer. However, whether he will reprise his role as the suave gangster remains unclear.
Judging by the plotline, the story is expected to expand beyond Tommy Shelby’s arc, with a new generation of the Shelby family taking the spotlight. Nevertheless, one cannot rule out a cameo or reduced role, as his level of involvement remains uncertain. Knight has a deeply personal connection to Peaky Blinders, having previously stated that the original stories were told to him by his parents, who lived in Small Heath, Birmingham, in the 1930s. For now, he appears in no rush to step away from the project.
