Moviefone attended a virtual press conference with stars Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Rebecca Ferguson, and Tim Roth as well as writer Steven Knight.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’

1) Cillian Murphy Says The Film Needed To Justify Itself If They Were Going To Make It

Cillian Murphy attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images for Netflix.

Fans are thrilled to see Tommy Shelby return to the screen, but star Cillian Murphy says he was not going to come back unless the movie was justified.

Cillian Murphy: The luxury of having played him for so long is that all the research is kind of done. You’ve got 13 years of it there. You’ve lived alongside him and you’ve aged alongside him. I’ll never experience that again; it’s really unique. But like the lads were saying, we wanted to make something that would justify its existence. The TV show was so successful and became deeper as it went, so the film needed to justify itself. When we figured out the thematic drive was “family”—a father and son story introducing Duke—we knew we were on the right track.

2) Steven Knight Always Wanted ‘Peaky Blinders’ To End With A Movie

Steven Knight attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix.

‘Peaky Blinders’ writer and producer admits that his plan was always to end with a movie, during this time period, telling this story.

Steven Knight: I’ve discovered recently that I did an interview after the first series where I said confidently, “We’re going to end this in the Second World War and it’s going to be a movie.” And here we are. I mean, it was very arrogant of me to imagine that would happen, but it’s happened. I always wanted to end it this way—always wanted to end it in Birmingham as the bombs drop. And I think that what we have done is ended this part of the story in a quite magnificent way.

3) Barry Keoghan Has Wanted To Be A Part Of ‘Peaky Blinders’ For Years

Barry Keoghan in ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’. Photo: Robert Viglasky/Netflix © 2026.

Actor Barry Keoghan joins the cast of ‘Peaky Blinders’ in this film, but this is something he has wanted for years.

Barry Keoghan: Yeah, it was mad. I remember the screen test, seeing Cillian as Tommy Shelby. It was the first time I’d seen him in person as Tommy Shelby, just looking at me. I was like, “Look at me, I’m new to this!” It’s iconic. I’ve wanted to be part of the TV show or movie for years. I’ve had the “haircut” for about 10 years in my personal life, and I get mistaken that I’m in it already! It’s ironic, isn’t it? But it’s such an honor. It is nerve-wracking and exciting, and there is this anticipation… you just hope you do well.

4) Tim Roth Did Not Watch ‘Peaky Blinders’ Before Filming ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’

Tim Roth attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix.

Tim Roth also joins the cast in the new film, but he approached the role by purposefully not watching the series.

Tim Roth: When I was asked to do it, I hadn’t seen it, but I’d heard about it. I bumped into them when they were filming once and they looked like they were having a lot more fun than I was at the time! But I made the decision not to watch it before joining. I think I would have been more nervous if I’d seen it, to be honest. I came in completely fresh and you walk through this “family door.” More importantly to me, it felt like they were taking it seriously—what Tom and Steve were up to was making a real movie. Full on. The only green screen you saw was to keep the skyscrapers out of the background.

5) Rebecca Ferguson Was Drawn To This Film For Several Reasons

Rebecca Ferguson attends the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Netflix.

When asked what it was about ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ that pulled Rebecca Ferguson in, she admits it was not just one thing, but many.

Rebecca Ferguson: It’s never one thing. It’s how they all tie together. Steven’s script was so dynamic and challenging. Anything disruptive is interesting in an established environment. My character comes from the outside; she sounds different, she acts differently, but there is a thematic connection. She’s another hurdle for them.

Cast and Crew attend the World Premiere of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ at Centenary Square on March 02, 2026 in Birmingham, England. Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix.

What is the plot of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’?

Birmingham, 1940. Amidst the chaos of WWII, Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground. By order of the Peaky Blinders….

Who is in the cast of ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’?

• Cillian Murphy as Thomas “Tommy” Shelby
• Rebecca Ferguson as Kaulo
• Barry Keoghan as Duke Shelby
• Tim Roth as Beckett
• Stephen Graham as Hayden Stagg

Cillian Murphy in ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’. Photo: Robert Viglasky/Netflix © 2026.

Cillian Murphy Movies and TV Shows:

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