"It's not easy": When Cillian Murphy shared his feelings about returning as Tommy Shelby in the Peaky Blinders franchise

Cillian Murphy has lived many lives on screen, but none have defined him quite like Tommy Shelby.

The actor, who won an Oscar for Oppenheimer, admitted that returning to the world of Peaky Blinders isn't as effortless as fans might think. In an interview with GQ, published November 7, 2024, while discussing his upcoming projects, he said,

"You have to figure it out again. It's not easy."

The actor, who is all set to reprise his role in the upcoming Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man, continued:

"You can't just switch him on and off. It takes a moment, it takes a few weeks to get back to it."

Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby leads with calculation and quiet menace. He is brilliant, broken, and endlessly ambitious. Creator Steven Knight built a world on smoke, steel, and silence, and every frame with heavy consequences. The show's rhythm is sharp. Its style became iconic: flat caps, three-piece suits, trench coats, and moral chaos.

Peaky Blinders movie: Cillian Murphy reprising his role for The Immortal Man

Last you might have seen, Murphy as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders Season 6 finale.

Now, as he gears up for the long-awaited Peaky Blinders movie, here's how he's prepped for it. Speaking to GQ, he revealed that he had to rewatch the show to get an idea of the setting and blend into his character,

"I have to watch some of it to remember what it's all about. But then when you get into it, it becomes like a second skin because I've been playing him for like 12 years or something."

He continued,

"Since I started producing- I was a producer on Peaky-you kind of have to watch it. It kind of takes the curse off of it. It was very nice watching it, because it was actually quite a good show. It was also quite heartbreaking, you know because I was watching Helen McCroy, and we lost her."

Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby, and what comes next

Cillian Murphy's world of Peaky Blinders is far from over. After years of waiting, the story will return with a feature film, The Immortal Man, followed by a two-season sequel series. For starters, the feature film is expected to release on Netflix in 2026. It will follow the aftermath of the Season 6 finale and bring Murphy back to the screen as Tommy Shelby. The film is set during World War II, following Tommy as he steps into the world at war, where loyalty, politics, and survival collide on a global scale.

Creator Steven Knight described it as "full on Peaky Blinders at war.", a film that will carry the franchise's signature style with sharp suits, smoky bars, and blood-soaked ambition. It will be directed by Tom Harper and stars Barry Keoghan, Stephen Graham, and Rebecca Ferguson.

Following the much-anticipated Peaky Blinders movie, currently in post-production, Netflix and BBC have officially ordered a two-season sequel series. Each season will comprise six hour-long episodes.

Cillian Murphy, who serves as an executive producer alongside Knight, is helping steer the next chapter. While he hasn't confirmed how much Tommy Shelby will appear in the sequels (or not), his creative presence ensures that the Shelby spirit remains alive. The new series will reportedly explore post-war Birmingham in 1953 and will usher in a new generation equally hungry for power.

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Also Read: Peaky Blinders: Unfolding the mystery behind the name of the infamous gang

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