Anya Taylor-Joy’s $2 Billion Franchise Roles Make Her Peaky Blinders Movie Return So Much More Important

Anya Taylor-Joy’s  Billion Franchise Roles Make Her Peaky Blinders Movie Return So Much More Important

Anya Taylor-Joy’s recent box office hits make her an essential piece in the upcoming Peaky Blinders sequel. The actress joined Peaky Blinders in its fifth season, taking on the role of the compelling Gina Grey. While she never plays an instrumental part in the show’s conflict, the Peaky Blinders sequel film could feature her as a prevalent character, bringing one of the most exciting stars in the series to center stage and ultimately increasing its chances of commercial success. Combining Anya Taylor-Joy with Cillian Murphy could bring Peaky Blinders to a new level of mainstream acclaim.

Given the events of the Peaky Blinders ending, the film sequel seems like it will center around the growing conflict in Europe, with Tommy’s central conflict being with Oswald Mosley. This leaves Gina out of the main picture. Still, she hasn’t been seen since Michael’s death, and she’s too forceful of a character not to have some reaction to her husband’s murder. There are several possibilities for where the film could go, but having Anya Taylor-Joy, even in a supporting role, is guaranteed to boost its popularity, given her current hot streak.

Dune 2 & The Super Mario Bros Movie Proves The Peaky Blinders Movie Needs Anya Taylor-Joy To Return

Anya Taylor-Joy’s streak of box office success makes her a vital cast member to have on board.

Over the past couple of years, Anya Taylor-Joy has established herself as one of the premiere young actors in the film industry. She’s had critically acclaimed success in movies like The Menu and The Northman in 2022, but it’s her roles in 2023 and 2024 that make her such a vital target for the Peaky Blinders movie. In 2023, Anya Taylor-Joy voiced Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, one of the highest-grossing films of the year. While it was a voice role, being a part of a movie worth $1 billion is still an enormous accomplishment.

In 2024, Anya Taylor-Joy has continued her success streak with a minor role in another commercial juggernaut, Dune: Part Two. While she’s uncredited for surprise purposes, her character is crucial to the film and establishes her as part of the franchise in the future. On top of that, she’s also set to star in another of the most-anticipated 2024 movies, Furiosa, which is set to be another box office giant in the consistently acclaimed Mad Max franchise. Altogether, her movie star value has rocketed since taking her Peaky Blinders role, and returning would be hugely beneficial to the film.

The Peaky Blinders Movie Including Gina Gray Is Even More Important After Michael’s Death

Narratively, Peaky Blinders season 6 left plenty of options for Gina Gray.

Anya Taylor-Joy’s  Billion Franchise Roles Make Her Peaky Blinders Movie Return So Much More Important

The showdown between Thomas Shelby and Michael Gray is a pivotal piece in the final Peaky Blinders sequel, and earlier parts of the season establish Michael and Gina’s dynamic to be of some importance. However, following Michael’s death, Gina is never seen again, and her reaction to the event is still to be shown. Gina is the mother of Michael’s son, so she’s tied to the Shelby family by blood, giving her a purpose in their future.

Vengeance is a common theme in Peaky Blinders, with fathers avenging sons and vice versa. While it may not seem prevalent to the Peaky Blinders plot in the future, there’s always potential for Michael Gray’s son to seek revenge on Thomas Shelby, which could make for a proper, Shakespearean conclusion to the drama. Anya Taylor-Joy’s Gina Gray as a tertiary antagonist shaping such events would be fantastic. There’s plenty of dramatic potential, and Anya Taylor-Joy is one of the most talented stars on the show. Not utilizing her character more would be wasteful.

Anya Taylor-Joy Can Still Return To Peaky Blinders’ Franchise In The Boston Spin-off

If not in the movie, Anya Taylor-Joy will have other opportunities to return.

Anya Taylor-Joy as Gina Gray in Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders was too successful to conclude after just one series, and a Peaky Blinders spin-off set in Boston is reportedly one of the future projects that’s been confirmed. While primarily set in the UK, the growing influence of Thomas Shelby eventually allowed for interaction with international organizations, with season 4’s New York Mafia plotline being the obvious standout. Michael Gray takes his business to the United States in season 5, allowing him to meet Gina in the first place.

Gina Gray comes from a wealthy Boston family and has deep roots in the city. In season 6, it’s the location where Michael and Gina are settled with their son. Therefore, it’d be hard to establish a Boston spin-off without involving her or her family. She has ties with Oswald Mosley, which could give her reason to appear in the film, but it’d be interesting to see Anya Taylor-Joy’s Gina Gray take a prominent role in future Peaky Blinders shows.

Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders is a historical crime drama created and written by Steven Knight and starring Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, and Helen McCrory. The television show is based on the gang, Peaky Blinders, a group that banded together after the end of World War I.

Cast

Annabelle Wallis
, Ian Peck
, Helen McCrory
, Paul Anderson
, Cillian Murphy
, Ned Dennehy
, Aimee-Ffion Edwards
, Sam Neill
, Sophie Rundle
, Tony Pitts
, Joe Cole

Release Date

September 12, 2013

Seasons

6

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Writers

Steven Knight