Cillian Murphy will reprise his role as Tommy Shelby in the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie, one that will mark a permanent change in perception of his character. Creator Steven Knight has confirmed that the film will be the end of the road for Peaky Blinders, indicating a sense of finality for the Shelby family. Knight’s original intention was to finish the series with a seventh season. However, a movie allows Knight to focus on the central character of the show, Tommy Shelby.
Although plot specifics for the film are sparse, Knight has revealed an array of production details. Filming will take place in Digbeth, a district of central Birmingham that served as home for the bygone Blinders. Further, Knight has confirmed that Paul Anderson will return as Arthur. Considering the film will chronicle an untold story from World War II, recasting Sam Claflin as Oswald Mosely seems a fitting choice, given his allegiance to the fascist cause. The Peaky gang will return to their Small Heath origins, with Tommy likely grappling to maintain a global political presence in opposition to Mosely.
Contrary to a seventh season, a film grants Knight the opportunity to conclude the Peaky Blinders chapter with much richer breadth, thanks to a film production budget. Knight can helm a fitting end to the Shelby family story with conflict across multiple fronts. The grounded city of Birmingham can be cast in a new light, political intrigue can be displayed with prestige, and the grittiness of the Second World War can be captured in full effect. The timeline of Peaky Blinders leaves the movie poised for a compelling finale with an extensive scope, both at home and abroad. The movie will likely explore these external settings and Tommy’s internal struggles, presenting the chance to permanently alter perceptions.
How Will Tommy Shelby’s Story End In The Peaky Blinders Movie?
Since his introductory scene in Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby is portrayed as a morally gray character, one that walks in between the dark and the light. This can be seen through the use of color, beginning with Tommy’s gray attire. Saddled atop a black horse strolling through the dingy alleys of Birmingham, Tommy elicits both fear and respect from the community. His darker notoriety is evident here, but it’s the duality that is paramount. Amidst his opening stroll, Tommy’s philanthropic nature can be observed, as he deposits change into the cup of a blind man holding a white sign. From the first scene of the series, viewers are made aware of this moral ambiguity, as Tommy treads the line between hero and villain.
Yet, the end of Peaky Blinders season 6 set up the movie, which will act as a de facto Peaky Blinders season 7. Tommy elects to spare the doctor that betrayed him before returning to see that his carriage of mementos has been set on fire. Aesthetically, the image is powerful. Tommy is once again seen clad in gray as the light of the fire consumes the dark of the carriage. More importantly, the scene is symbolic of Tommy’s past being extinguished. It’s indicative of the chance that he has to rise from the ashes as more than a Peaky Blinder, but a morally sound man.
Up to this point, Tommy’s quest for self-betterment has been well documented. He battles with shedding the back-street crime boss label through a path of political indoctrination, earning a place in British Parliament and knighthood. Further, he manages a lengthy abstention from binge-drinking and murder, both vices that he heavily indulged in earlier seasons. Although Peaky Blinders season 6 sees Tommy relapse in both of these areas, the final scenes in the series are an indication of a permanent change in character for the upcoming movie. While questions remain regarding Tommy’s ultimate fate, his continual development leaves the Peaky Blinders movie poised for a redeeming arc of sacrifice, one that can pave the way for the next generation of the Shelby family.
