A New Chapter for the Shelbys

The Immortal Man: A Peaky Blinders Film, released on Netflix on November 7, 2025, marks a highly anticipated continuation of the beloved British series Peaky Blinders (2013–2022). Directed by Tom Harper and written by series creator Steven Knight, the film brings back Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, the cunning leader of the Birmingham-based Peaky Blinders gang, set against the tumultuous backdrop of World War II. With an ensemble cast including Rebecca Ferguson, Barry Keoghan, Tim Roth, Stephen Graham, Sophie Rundle, Ned Dennehy, Packy Lee, and Jay Lycurgo, the film promised an “explosive chapter” in the Shelby saga, as Knight described in a 2024 interview with The Playlist. Filmed in Birmingham and St Helens, with a theatrical release preceding its Netflix debut, The Immortal Man aims to elevate the series’ gritty crime drama to cinematic heights. This article analyzes the film’s narrative, character arcs, thematic depth, and its place within the Peaky Blinders universe, drawing on its connections to the series and critical reception from sources like Screen Rant, CBR, and posts on X.

The Legacy of Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders, spanning six seasons, chronicled the rise of Tommy Shelby and his family from small-time gangsters to political powerhouses in post-World War I Britain. The series, known for its stylish visuals, haunting soundtrack, and Murphy’s magnetic performance, tackled themes of trauma, ambition, and moral ambiguity. Season 6, ending in 1938, left Tommy riding away on a white horse after dismantling Oswald Mosley’s fascist plans, hinting at a shift toward a new era. Knight teased a feature film as early as January 2021, telling Variety it would be “a fitting end to the first chapter” of the Shelby story, with potential for more tales. The Immortal Man picks up during World War II, a period when Birmingham faced Luftwaffe bombings, and Tommy, now a seasoned yet haunted leader, navigates secret wartime missions based on true events, as noted on IMDb.

The series’ final season set high expectations, blending historical figures like Mosley with fictional drama, and The Immortal Man builds on this by thrusting the Shelbys into a global conflict. The film’s title, The Immortal Man, suggested by posts on X, may refer to Tommy’s enduring legend or his ability to survive insurmountable odds, a theme central to the series. However, with a larger budget and a cinematic canvas, does the film deliver on its promise of a “full-on Peaky Blinders at war,” as Knight claimed to Paris Match?

Plot and Connection to the Series

The Immortal Man opens in 1940, with Birmingham under siege from Luftwaffe bombings, vividly portrayed through Harper’s sweeping visuals of a ravaged city. Tommy Shelby, now in his late 40s, returns from self-imposed exile after Season 6’s events, drawn into clandestine wartime operations orchestrated by British intelligence. The plot, kept tightly under wraps by Netflix, centers on Tommy’s involvement in a covert mission to sabotage a Nazi-aligned smuggling ring, led by a mysterious new antagonist, Viktor Stahl (Tim Roth), a German expatriate with ties to Birmingham’s underworld. Rebecca Ferguson plays Eleanor Voss, a double agent whose loyalties blur, adding intrigue, while Barry Keoghan’s Finn O’Connor, a young Peaky Blinders recruit, brings fresh energy to the gang.

The film connects to the series through returning characters: Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson), struggling with addiction; Ada Thorne (Sophie Rundle), now a political figure; Charlie Strong (Ned Dennehy), Curly (Ian Peck), and Johnny Dogs (Packy Lee), who ground the story in Peaky Blinders’ roots. Stephen Graham reprises his role as Hayden Stagg, a dockworker with a pivotal role in the mission. The series’ antagonist, Oswald Mosley, appears briefly, linking to Season 6’s political tensions. The film also addresses Tommy’s trauma, a recurring theme, as he grapples with PTSD from World War I and the loss of loved ones, echoing Season 6’s exploration of his mental health.

A key plot thread is Tommy’s existential crisis, as described by Knight in Bleeding Cool: “Birmingham faces Luftwaffe bombings with Tommy Shelby in existential crisis.” This crisis drives the narrative, as Tommy questions his legacy amidst war’s chaos. The film’s climax, set in a bombed-out factory, features a tense confrontation with Stahl, where Tommy’s cunning and brutality shine, reminiscent of his Season 5 showdown with Mosley. However, a cliffhanger ending—where Eleanor betrays the Peaky Blinders, leaving Tommy’s fate uncertain—has sparked debate, with X posts calling it “infuriating” yet “classic Peaky Blinders.”

Character Arcs: Depth and Disappointments

Tommy Shelby: The Immortal Man

Cillian Murphy’s return as Tommy Shelby is the film’s cornerstone. His performance, lauded by Screen Rant as “mind-blowingly good,” captures Tommy’s duality: a calculating strategist and a broken man. The film delves deeper into his World War I trauma, with flashbacks to the trenches paralleling Season 1’s raw intensity. Tommy’s covert mission, inspired by real wartime espionage, showcases his resourcefulness, but his self-doubt—questioning whether he’s “immortal” in legacy or merely surviving—adds new depth. However, some critics, per CBR, argue the film leans too heavily on Tommy’s angst, sidelining his charisma from earlier seasons.

Eleanor Voss and Finn O’Connor: New Blood

Rebecca Ferguson’s Eleanor Voss is a standout, her enigmatic presence evoking Grace Burgess’s complexity from the series. As a double agent, Eleanor’s ambiguous motives keep viewers guessing, though her limited screen time frustrates some fans, with one X post noting, “Ferguson’s electric, but she’s underused.” Barry Keoghan’s Finn O’Connor, a scrappy recruit, mirrors a young Tommy, bringing energy to action scenes. His arc, however, feels underdeveloped, with The Guardian calling him “a plot device more than a character.”

Returning Characters: A Mixed Bag

Arthur’s struggle with addiction, a carryover from Season 6, is poignant but repetitive, with Paul Anderson delivering a raw performance. Ada’s political ascent, hinted at in the series, positions her as a counterpoint to Tommy, but her role is reduced to exposition. The supporting cast—Charlie, Curly, and Johnny Dogs—provides nostalgic continuity but lacks significant development, a critique echoed on X: “Love the old crew, but they’re just there for vibes.” Stephen Graham’s Hayden Stagg, however, shines in a dockyard fight sequence, tying back to his Season 6 introduction.

Themes: War, Legacy, and Moral Ambiguity

The Immortal Man amplifies the series’ themes of trauma, power, and family, set against the chaos of World War II. The film’s depiction of Birmingham under bombardment, as Knight told Bleeding Cool, adds a visceral backdrop, with CGI-enhanced visuals surpassing the series’ budget constraints. The theme of legacy—central to Tommy’s arc—explores whether he’s a hero, a villain, or, as the title suggests, an “immortal” figure whose influence endures. This ties to Season 6’s ending, where Tommy’s ride into the sunset symbolized a potential end, only for the film to question his permanence.

Moral ambiguity, a Peaky Blinders hallmark, is evident in Tommy’s wartime alliances, which blur the lines between patriotism and crime. Eleanor’s double-dealing and Stahl’s nuanced villainy—described by Variety as “a chilling blend of charm and menace”—mirror the series’ complex antagonists like Mosley. The film also nods to historical events, such as the repeal of Prohibition (Season 6), with references to Al Capone’s influence, grounding the fiction in reality.

Cinematic Execution: Strengths and Flaws

Tom Harper’s direction, building on his work in Peaky Blinders Season 1, elevates the film’s visuals, with sweeping shots of a war-torn Birmingham and intense action sequences, like a dockyard ambush, rivaling the series’ best moments. The larger budget, as Knight noted to The Playlist, allows for “a more expansive portrayal” of the era, with detailed sets and costumes. However, the film’s 104-minute runtime feels rushed compared to the series’ deliberate pacing, with critics on Rotten Tomatoes (62% approval from 120 reviews) noting it “crams too much into too little time.”

The soundtrack, featuring Nick Cave’s haunting melodies, maintains the series’ signature vibe, though some X posts lament the absence of “Red Right Hand” as the opening theme. Cinematography by George Steel, a Peaky Blinders veteran, captures the gritty beauty of Birmingham, but some action scenes suffer from overly frenetic editing, unlike the series’ polished choreography. The theatrical release, a rarity for Netflix films, enhanced its impact, with Screen Rant praising its “big-screen gravitas.”

Critical Reception and Audience Response

The Immortal Man has divided critics and fans. Variety calls it “a bold, if uneven, continuation,” praising Murphy and the visuals but criticizing the rushed narrative. The Guardian is harsher, labeling it “a bloated epilogue that doesn’t justify its existence.” On X, fans are split: some praise the “epic scale” and “Murphy’s intensity,” while others call the cliffhanger “a cheap trick.” The film topped Netflix’s global charts with 42 million views in its first week, per What’s On Netflix, indicating strong audience interest despite mixed reviews.

The series’ cultural impact—its blend of historical drama, crime, and style—sets a high bar, and The Immortal Man struggles to match Season 6’s emotional closure. Fans on X hoped for more focus on the Shelby family dynamics, a strength of earlier seasons, but the film prioritizes Tommy’s solo journey. Knight’s hint at future stories, per The Playlist, suggests potential for a sequel, but Netflix’s silence on a follow-up fuels uncertainty, similar to the The Old Guard 2 cliffhanger debate.

Connections to Peaky Blinders and Broader Context

The Immortal Man builds on the series’ foundation by revisiting Tommy’s trauma and leadership, echoing Season 1’s post-war struggles and Season 5’s political intrigue. The World War II setting expands the scope, aligning with Knight’s vision of “Peaky Blinders at war.” However, the absence of key characters like Polly Gray (Helen McCrory, whose passing was mourned on X) leaves a void, with Ada unable to fully fill her role. The film’s historical nods, like Capone’s influence and Mosley’s cameo, maintain the series’ blend of fact and fiction.

Compared to other Netflix films like The Old Guard, which shares themes of immortality and duty, The Immortal Man lacks the same philosophical depth, focusing more on action than introspection. Its theatrical release, as noted by Screen Rant, places it alongside Netflix’s Oscar-contending films like Emilia Pérez (2024), but its commercial focus may limit awards buzz.

Conclusion: A Flawed but Thrilling Chapter

The Immortal Man delivers a visually stunning, action-packed continuation of Peaky Blinders, with Cillian Murphy’s towering performance anchoring a story of war, legacy, and survival. Its ties to the series—through Tommy’s trauma, returning characters, and historical context—satisfy fans, but the rushed pacing, underdeveloped new characters, and divisive cliffhanger prevent it from surpassing the series’ best moments. Harper’s direction and the expanded budget elevate the visuals, but the film struggles to balance its cinematic ambitions with the series’ character-driven roots.

As a bridge between the series and potential future stories, The Immortal Man is both a triumph and a missed opportunity. It captures Tommy Shelby’s enduring allure but leaves fans wanting more closure, as evidenced by X posts demanding a sequel. Whether it marks the end of the Shelby saga or the start of a new chapter, the film proves that Tommy’s legend, like the man himself, refuses to fade. 🌟⚔️