The show’s creator confirmed that the Oscar winner will reprise his role for the big screen adaptation.
Steven Knight, writer and creator of Peaky Blinders, has confirmed in an interview that Cillian Murphy will star as Tommy Shelby in the upcoming Peaky Blinders film.
The Irishman won his first Academy Award just two weeks ago for his portrayal of Robert Oppenheimer in the Christopher Nolan epic Oppenheimer, released last year.
Murphy hung up his newsboy cap in 2022 after playing the leader of the notorious crime family for six whole seasons.
Speculation has mounted over the last year or so that a feature length spin-off was in the works.
The rumours were confirmed by Knight at the premiere of his new BBC show, This Town, in Birmingham last night.
The 64-year-old not only confirmed his reunion with Murphy, but also revealed that the film will be set during WWII, so there will be a time jump from where season six left us.
Speaking about the Cork native’s return to the streets of Birmingham, Knight said: “He is definitely returning for it. We’re shooting it in September just down the road in Digbeth.”
In a recent interview with Esquire, Knight also teased the cast of the movie, suggesting that it will feature some of season six’s characters: “In series six we’re bringing in the new generation, and they are going to be part of what happens in the film.
“I think it’s finding those actors that you just watch and you think, there you go. There’s the future.”
Speaking to GQ last month, Cillian Murphy said: “I’ve always said I’m open to it if there’s more story. I do love how the show ended. And I love the ambiguity of it. And I’m really proud of what we did. But I’m always open to a good script.”
Knight’s new show tells the story of members of the Windrush generation arriving into Birmingham and Coventry and how they used their music and culture to bond with the locals of those areas.
Speaking on the red carpet last night, Knight went on to praise Murphy following his Academy Award for his role as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s 2023 film.
He said: “It was so deserved. I mean he’s brilliant, and he’s such a great human being and he leads the line when we’re shooting and he’s so level headed and straight forward.
“He deserves everything he gets.”
This Town will premiere on BBC One on Easter Sunday at 9pm.
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