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Casting Highlights From New Peaky Blinders Movie
- Chris Olson
- 7 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Film Feature by Chris Olson
As we look toward the arrival of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, directed by Tom Harper, the anticipation is not merely about the continuation of a narrative; it is about the elevation of a saga that has defined a decade of television.
Set against the scorched-earth backdrop of 1940s Birmingham during the second World War, the film promises a visceral, cinematic expansion of Steven Knight’s world.
While the smoke-filled streets of Small Heath remain familiar, the casting for this feature-length outing suggests a project of immense prestige, blending seasoned series regulars with some of the most formidable talent in modern cinema.
Cillian Murphy
It feels almost reductive to suggest that the Peaky Blinders movie could exist without the presence of its central heartbeat. Cillian Murphy returns to the role of Thomas Shelby, a character he has inhabited with a twitchy, profound intellectual depth since 2013.
Following his monumental, Academy Award-winning turn in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Murphy brings a renewed gravity to the role of the shell-shocked patriarch.
Tommy Shelby is an enigma of strategic brilliance and existential dread, and seeing Murphy tackle this persona on a cinematic canvas is a masterstroke.
His career has long been defined by an ability to balance blockbuster intensity with internal character studies, as seen in his early breakout in 28 Days Later and his hauntingly precise work in The Wind That Shakes the Barley. In this new chapter, Tommy is drawn back from exile to face a reckoning that feels final, and Murphy’s magnetic energy remains the film’s essential lightning rod.
Rebecca Ferguson
The addition of Rebecca Ferguson to the ensemble is perhaps the most intriguing narrative choice of the production.
Ferguson has carved out a space as one of the most versatile actresses working today, leaping from the high-stakes espionage of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation to the epic, tatu-faced iconography of Lady Jessica in Dune.
In Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, her role remains shrouded in mystery, yet her pedigree suggests a character of significant weight. Whether she will play a figure of political intrigue or a new antagonist in the lawless streets of the 1940s, Ferguson’s presence elevates the film’s status to that of a global event.
Her ability to portray women who are both enigmatic and incredibly powerful, as evidenced in the dystopian series Silo and the musical spectacle of The Greatest Showman, makes her a perfect fit for the murky moral waters of the Shelby world.
Stephen Graham
Stephen Graham reprises his role as Hayden Stagg, the dockworker union leader who first appeared in the final season of the television series.
Graham is an actor who feels tailor-made for the grit of the Peaky universe. From his visceral performance as Combo in This is England to the frantic, claustrophobic brilliance of the kitchen-set drama Boiling Point, Graham possesses a kinetic energy that is almost unmatched.
His inclusion ensures that the film maintains its connection to the working-class industrial roots of the story. Graham’s Stagg was a man who dared to stand up to the Shelbys, and his return suggests that the internal politics of the Liverpool and Birmingham docks will remain a vital conflict in this wartime setting.
He is an actor who finds the human being underneath the iconography of the "tough guy," and his presence here is a welcome anchor.
Barry Keoghan
In an era of extreme cinematic talent, Barry Keoghan is a name that commands immediate attention. The Irish actor, known for his hauntingly strange and phenomenal performances in films like Saltburn and The Banshees of Inisherin, joins the Peaky Blinders cast in an undisclosed role.
Keoghan has a unique ability to immerse the viewer in dark, brooding mysteries, often playing characters who are unpredictable and unsettling. His work in the MCU’s Eternals showed he could handle the scale of a major production, but it is in his more intimate, gritty roles—such as in the harrowing The Killing of a Sacred Deer (one of my personal favourites) where he truly shines.
Adding Keoghan to a cast that already includes Murphy and Graham creates a powerhouse of intensity that promises to provoke heated debates in the foyer long after the credits roll.
Tim Roth
A veteran of the industry with a penchant for playing characters with a sharp, cynical edge, Tim Roth is another heavyweight addition to the film.
Best known for his iconic collaborations with Quentin Tarantino in Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Roth brings a certain pedigree of cool to the project. Much like his role in The Hateful Eight, one suspects Roth will lean into the darker, more unsettling corners of the Peaky world.
While his specific character remains under wraps, the prospect of Roth sharing the screen with Murphy is a thrilling one. His career has spanned everything from independent British classics like Made in Britain to mainstream appearances in the MCU as the Abomination.
In the context of a 1940s gangster saga, Roth’s veteran presence adds a layer of sophisticated menace that the franchise has always excelled at.
Ned Dennehy
For fans of the series, the return of Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong is essential. Charlie has always been the logistics man of the Shelby operation, a non-biological uncle who provides the practical support needed for Tommy’s grand designs.
Dennehy has a face that feels lived-in, perfect for the industrial textures of the period. Outside of the Shelby stables, Dennehy has delivered memorable performances in the bleak drama Tyrannosaur (which was incredible) and showed his range in the fantastical Good Omens.
His role in the film ensures that the legacy of the Shelbys is protected, providing a bridge between the old ways of the 1920s and the new, dangerous realities of a world at war.
Sophy Rundle
Finally, the film would not be complete without Sophy Rundle as Ada Thorne. As the only Shelby sibling who consistently challenged Tommy’s path, Ada has evolved from a young socialist rebel into a sophisticated, integral part of the family’s political power. Rundle’s performance has been a mainstay of the series, and her return is vital for the emotional stakes of the movie.
Rundle has established herself as a leading talent in British drama, with standout roles in Gentleman Jack and Bodyguard. In the film, Ada will likely be the one forced to navigate the precarious balance between the family’s criminal legacy and the shifting tides of British society during the war. Her presence ensures that the female perspective remains central to the unfurling conflict, grounding the epic scale of the movie in the complicated bonds of blood.
The Peaky Blinders movie is more than a simple conclusion; it is a bold, experimental step into the darkness of the 20th century. With a cast this robust, it is clear that Steven Knight and Tom Harper are not looking to play it safe. They are creating a version of the story that feels vital, immediate, and definitively cinematic.
