BEHIND THE SCENES OF ‘PEAKY BLINDERS: THE IMMORTAL MAN’
words by ANOUK WOUDT
The new upcoming film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man follows Tommy Shelby’s return from self-imposed isolation to find his estranged son, Duke Shelby at the head of the new generation of Peaky Blinders. Heading backstage behind the production, we are given an insider’s peek into what led to this film’s inception.
all images courtesy of Netflix
Jumping forward six years after the series finale, we find ourselves in 1940, amidst the terrors of World War II. This may seem like a swift divergence from the original time period of the show, but as revealed by its creator, Steven Knight, it was always planned for the story to span between the two World Wars. This film can be distinguished from the series by its setting, which automatically categorizes it as a war epic and crime thriller, in stark contrast to the series’ historical drama roots. Though the premise makes it distinctly different, the show's main themes of family loyalty and class dynamics linger throughout. However, through the introduction of Tommy’s son, we can see an extra layer added that explores generational trauma as a major theme.
Though fans expected Tommy’s story to be finalized with the end of season six, we know now that Knight had long intended to end the story with a movie. Finding it pointless to dwell on the same subjects, he introduced new narrative fuel with the father-son rivalry, allowing him to justify this feature-length conclusion. With collaboration alongside returning director Tom Harper, the film is sure to stay true to the show’s spirit. The show’s star, Cillian Murphy, even had early involvement with the script, inserting his own character into the narrative’s creation.
Getting into the nitty-gritty of the plot, the film is based around real-life events of the Second World War. Centred around Operation Bernhard, which was a real Nazi counterfeit plot, the story starts with the bombing of the Birmigham Small Arms factory, which connects to Knight’s real family history, bringing some of his personal narrative to the story. Tommy is reintroduced as an older version of himself, plagued by the ghosts of his past, which becomes central to his character arc in this film. He is joined by returning characters Ada Shelby, Hayden Stagg, Johnny Dogs and more to combat the rise of his son’s gangster influence.
Delving deeper into the actors, we get a glimpse into Cillian’s Murphy’s feelings on the reprisal of this iconic role. After the extended period away from this character, it took him a while to re-enter as Tommy Shelby, finding difficulty inhabiting his physicality and psychology. Despite this, Knight and Harper describe Murphy as a force on set, breathing a newfound authority into Shelby, which matches his character’s story perfectly.
Of course, we have to mention the cast’s newest addition, Barry Keoghan, who is also addressed with a deep dive into the character and actor’s interpretation, respectively. Duke Shelby is the leader of the new generation of Peaky Blinders, who are more reckless than they have ever been, described as similar to A Clockward Orange’s gang dynamic. They carry an air of arrogance, but truly are overwhelmed by unresolved trauma that dictates the way they act, desparate to live up to the myth of the old gang. The film will single in on Duke’s struggles with identity and father issues, which is why Barry Keoghan was chosen for the role. His previous acting roles show that he is able to balance hardness with vulnerability, which is exactly what this character represents. Keoghan interprets Duke as partly a façade of himself, seeking paternal approval through imitation of his father’s legacy.
Another new castmember is Tim Roth, who is playing the film’s major antagonist, apart from Duke Shelby. His character, Beckett, serves the British Union of Fascists and oversees the Nazi counterfeit money operation that the film surrounds. Roth’s portayal is very grounded and ‘reasonable’, adding to the eerieness of the character, considering the evil he is involved in. Rebecca Ferguson also join the cast as Kaulo Chiklo, who is a Romany spiritual leader, who persuades Tommy to re-enter this world. Her character allows for an exploration of Romany culture and mysticism of the time period, though she could be manipulating her faith for power, which adds an interesting complexity that makes her human.
The scale of the production is way more extensive than anything filmed for the TV series, spanning multiple cities with bigger crews and expanded production design. Shot throughout Northern London, the film is set in real locations, which allow full immersion into the narrative. Some iconic locations make their return, including Charlie’s Yard and The Garrison Pub, so OG fans can feel right at home. Realism was very important to the film’s core with real weather conditions being used, opting against props and sets that could distance the film from the historical reality it is based on. Even the scenes with explosion also used pratical effects enhanced by VFX, rather than CGI.
Inspired by Westerns and American myth-making, the cinematic style has shifted from the series in a way that blends gangster, war, and even supernatural tones. Costuming is very intentional, evolving to reflect the film’s narrative, using darker tones to represent Tommy’s isolation before seeing him return to his classic Peaky suit that we know and love. Duke’s costuming is also built to emphasize his Romany heritage, while eventually showing his evolution into someone more business-like. For the sound, you can expect moody swirls mixed with plucky needle drops that reflect the turmoil of their world. Injecting the soundscape with modernity, Composer and Musical Supervisor Alex Genn includes song choices from indie bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead and The White Stripes, which sets the film apart from its historical drama peers.
With the release date inching closer, Peaky Blinder: The Immortal Man is going to be bigger and more audacious than anything we have ever seen from the Peaky Blinders team. From production to performances, visual themes of vulnerability will meet destruction to create the well-deserved finale for the beloved show. After all, it is only fitting for such an iconic show to live up to its own towering heights.
