On the heels of Steven Knight‘s new period drama “A Thousand Blows,” the creator of “Peaky Blinders” is coyly teasing that the British crime franchise “will continue” beyond an upcoming feature film for Netflix and BBC Films that sees star Cillian Murphy reprise his iconic role of Tommy Shelby, leader of an infamous criminal syndicate, that project set during the events of WWII wrapped production back in December.
“I’m not allowed to announce it, but I’m just saying that the world of ‘Peaky’ will continue,” the creator teased on the “BBC Breakfast Show” (via BBC). As more “Peaky” is on the horizon, Knight also relayed his first impressions from the upcoming movie, “The stuff that I’m watching – the rushes, the assemblies – no one will be disappointed. It is quite an incredible thing,” he said. “It’s a very fitting way to end this part of the ‘Peaky’ story.”
READ MORE: ‘A Thousand Blows’ Review: Steven Knight’s ‘Peaky Blinders’ Follow Up Packs A Weak Punch
Adding another bit of hype for the movie, Knight said, “I would say this, wouldn’t I? But it’s fantastic. We’ve got the best, I think, the best British actors all in one place, including Stephen [Graham].”
Murphy isn’t the only high-profile get for Knight’s feature film spinoff after winning the Best Actor Oscar statue for playing Robert J. Oppenheimer in the atomic bomb drama “Oppenheimer.” The movie’s cast also consists of Rebecca Ferguson (“Dune”), Tim Roth (“The Hateful Eight”), Stephen Graham (“A Thousand Blows”), Sophie Rundle, Ned Dennehy, Packy Lee, Ian Peck, Jay Lycurgo, and Barry Keoghan (“The Banshees of Inisherin”).
Big names and veteran actors getting involved isn’t a new development either, other folks who have appeared in “Peaky” during the show’s run include Anya Taylor-Joy, Tom Hardy, Adrien Brody, Sam Neill, and Noah Taylor.
A while back during Variety’s “Actors On Actors,” Margot Robbie (“Barbie”) gushed about being a huge “Peaky Blinders” fan and was hopeful that he would continue playing the character. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that Robbie attempts to find a meaty role or cameo in whatever is next, given she is an admitted super-fan.
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What could this continuation of “Peaky Blinders” look like?
Another cost-effective movie for Netflix, more series expanding that established universe with spinoffs? It sounds like Knight knows, alongside the BBC, but isn’t ready to spill the beans to the rest of us.