Cillian Murphy has portrayed the iconic Thomas Shelby since Peaky Blinders first aired in 2013, shaping one of television’s most unforgettable characters over more than a decade. After the sixth and final season concluded, Murphy returned to the role one last time, donning the flat cap again for the upcoming film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.
Set for release in March 2026, the movie unfolds in 1940s Birmingham as Tommy Shelby confronts his past, faces his demons, and reckons with the legacy he leaves behind. The film is set to serve as the final chapter in Tommy’s story, before the franchise moves forward with a new era of Peaky Blinders.
Despite the significance of the moment, Murphy has revealed that his farewell to the character was far less ceremonious than fans might expect. Speaking about filming his final scene, the actor explained how it ended suddenly and without fanfare.
“We were on the side of a hill in the Peak District somewhere, in the pissing rain, and we were losing the light,” he recalled in an interview with Empire. “But it was a really emotional scene.”
Murphy went on to share that once the scene was completed, the cast and crew simply packed up and left. “So it was absolutely, completely underwhelming,” he smiled.
Even so, Murphy admitted that he doesn’t yet feel a sense of closure about leaving Tommy Shelby behind. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to process it or think about it until the film comes out, because I believe that a film isn’t finished until people look at it,” he explained.
Franchise creator Steven Knight has also spoken about what fans can expect from The Immortal Man, saying he hopes the film “feels like the end of a novel” for longtime viewers. “It’s the last few chapters of a long novel, where you get to round it off. And prepare people for what comes next,” he added.
That next chapter will introduce a new generation of the Shelby family, with two more seasons of Peaky Blinders already in development. Set in 1953, the upcoming series will depict Birmingham’s rise from the ruins left by World War II.
“The race to own Birmingham’s massive reconstruction project becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions. This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and danger: with the Shelby family right at its blood-soaked heart,” teases the synopsis.
