Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy and fellow stars gathered in Birmingham on Monday for the world premiere of “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man”, marking the TV series’ transition to the big screen.
Murphy was joined by Tim Roth, Rebecca Ferguson, Barry Keoghan, and rock band Fontaines D.C., along with several Premier League footballers, in a red-carpet event attended by hundreds of fans dressed in the show’s iconic 1920s and 1930s attire.
The Irish actor told AFP that Birmingham, affectionately known as Brum, was “the only place it could ever happen,” noting the city itself has been a “character” throughout the series’ six seasons and the new film.
“I sent [Barry Keoghan] a text on Father’s Day… and asked him if he wanted to be in it. We know each other… he’s just unbelievable on camera,” Murphy shared.
The premiere featured pyrotechnics, music from Fontaines D.C., and interactive displays including Birmingham’s mechanical bull sporting the series’ signature flat cap, allowing fans to capture memorable photos.
The film, written by series creator Steven Knight, picks up during World War II, with Thomas Shelby returning from self-imposed exile while his estranged son, Duke, causes chaos. Knight explained the war-time setting emphasizes the hedonistic, high-stakes world the characters inhabit:
“In that time, when the bombs are falling, people become very hedonistic because they don’t know if they’re going to be alive the next day… the Peaky Blinders ethos becomes a general ethos.”
Director Tom Harper added that placing Shelby in WWII felt “fitting,” given the character’s past trauma from World War I, providing a dramatic backdrop that echoes the series’ explosive narrative.
New additions to the cast include Roth as Beckett and Ferguson as Kaulo, while long-time fan favorite Packy Lee, who plays Johnny Dogs, reflected on the journey:
“It’s been almost 14 years of my life playing the same character! I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
Murphy, meanwhile, admitted he has yet to fully process the saga’s conclusion.
“I think it’ll take a bit of time for me, you know.”
“Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man” opens in cinemas Friday, March 15, and will stream on Netflix starting March 20, giving fans worldwide a chance to witness the culmination of the beloved series.
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