Cillian Murphy fuels Peaky Blinders return talk with meeting amid movie rumour

03 February 2024 , 17:46

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It is unclear if Cillian Murphy will star in the film (Image: BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd 2019/Robert Viglasky)

Peaky Blinders fans are desperate to hear whether Cillian Murphy will sign up for the forthcoming movie adaptation.

And it seems the actor could be closer than ever to signing on the dotted line after a secret meeting with creator Steven Knight last month. Oscar nominee Cillian – who played cut-throat gangster Tommy Shelby until 2022 – was seen deep in conversation with Steven at The French House in London’s Soho.

And it is understood that they were discussing the star’s role in the flick, which begins filming this year. One onlooker said: “This film – and specifically whether Cillian is involved or not – has been shrouded in secrecy.

“But his meeting with Steven last week makes a return look all the more likely. They sat for over an hour together and were deep in conversation. So for Peaky fans, there’s hope he will be back.

It remains to be seen whether Murphy will join other members from the TV cast (BBC)

The TV series, which focuses on the exploits of the Shelby gang, became a runaway hit when it launched in 2013 and has featured big names such as Tom Hardy, Sam Neill, Anya Taylor-Joy and Helen McCrory. But Cillian was always at the centre of the drama as mob boss Tommy, who was last seen riding off screen on a horse.

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Since then, Cillian has won a Golden Globe for his appearance in Oppenheimer,
and is in the running to take home an Oscar for the role next month.

In an interview in December, he admitted he was “open to the idea” of a Peaky Blinders movie but was quick to point out the difficulties of turning a TV series into a film.

Cillian said: “I’m totally open to the idea but I also do think it was kind of a perfect six seasons. It’s sometimes hard to move into the film format and I do like the ambiguity of the ending. But I’m always open to a great script.”

Last year, we caught up with Steven and he told us the film – which is due to be made in Birmingham’s Digbeth Loc. Studios – will be set during the Second World War and feature some major stunts.

But he remained tight-lipped over Cillian’s involvement. He said: “Will Tommy give James Bond a run for his money? Maybe. We always thought of Peaky as very cinematic, so we are finally finding a screen big enough for what we want to do.”

Laura Armstrong