Barry Keoghan Leads a New Generation of Peaky Blinders in ‘The Immortal Man’ Movie

Barry Keoghan is stepping into the iconic world of Peaky Blinders as the leader of a new generation of Birmingham’s most notorious gangsters. The Saltburn and Banshees of Inisherin star has been revealed as a key addition to Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, where he will don the signature flat cap and command a younger cohort of Peaky Blinders alongside returning legend Cillian Murphy. The first look images released by Empire Magazine show Barry Keoghan in full period costume, marking what promises to be a significant evolution in the franchise’s storytelling as it expands beyond Tommy Shelby’s original gang.

The casting represents a full-circle moment for Barry Keoghan, who had attempted to join the acclaimed BBC series multiple times over the years but never found the right fit. When Cillian Murphy personally offered him a role in the Peaky Blinders movie, the Irish actor’s response was immediate and enthusiastic. “Of course, bro. At the drop of a hat,” Barry Keoghan recalled telling Murphy. “I was like, ‘Freakin’ yeah. Anything to work with yourself again.'” The two actors previously collaborated on Christopher Nolan’s war epic Dunkirk, establishing a professional rapport that would eventually lead to their reunion in Birmingham’s criminal underworld.

Barry Keoghan’s Mystery Character Takes Command

While specific details about Barry Keoghan’s character remain tightly guarded, the first look images tell a compelling story. The photos show Barry Keoghan wearing the iconic flat cap that has become synonymous with Peaky Blinders, positioned at the head of a group of younger gang members in 1940s Birmingham. This visual immediately signals his character’s leadership role within a new generation stepping into the power vacuum or expansion of the Shelby empire.

The imagery marks a significant departure from the typical Peaky Blinders promotional material, where Tommy Shelby invariably occupies the central leadership position. Seeing Barry Keoghan at the forefront suggests the film will explore themes of succession, legacy, and the passing of Birmingham’s criminal torch to younger, hungrier hands.

Barry Keoghan’s Character Details

Barry Keoghan himself expressed the weight of inheriting one of television’s most iconic catchphrases. “I feel like I shouldn’t be allowed to say it,” he joked to Empire Magazine about delivering the legendary decree, “By order of the Peaky Blinders.” “It’s such an iconic line.”

The Long Road to Joining Peaky Blinders

Barry Keoghan’s journey to the Peaky Blinders movie was marked by near-misses and scheduling conflicts that prevented earlier collaboration. “I’d always wanted to be part of it,” the actor revealed. “But the schedules never worked, or I didn’t fit the description of what they were looking for.”

This pattern of missed opportunities makes his eventual casting all the more meaningful. Throughout the original series’ six-season run from 2013 to 2022, Barry Keoghan’s star continued to rise with breakthrough performances in films like The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Dunkirk, and The Banshees of Inisherin. By the time the Peaky Blinders movie entered development, Barry Keoghan had become one of cinema’s most sought-after talents, making him a perfect fit for the franchise’s theatrical expansion.

When Cillian Murphy personally reached out about the role, he didn’t just offer Barry Keoghan a part—he revealed exactly which character he wanted him to play. This level of specificity from the lead actor and producer suggests the role was crafted with Barry Keoghan’s unique talents in mind, rather than casting him into a generic supporting position.

Barry Keoghan’s Career Trajectory

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Plot and Setting

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man takes place in Birmingham during 1940, amidst the chaos and devastation of World War II. The official synopsis reveals that Tommy Shelby is “driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet.” With both the future of the Shelby family and the country at stake, Tommy must confront his own demons and decide whether to embrace his legacy or destroy it entirely.

This World War II setting represents a significant time jump from the television series finale, which concluded in the 1930s. The intervening years and the global conflict provide rich narrative territory for exploring how the Peaky Blinders have evolved, who has risen to power in Tommy’s absence, and how a new generation navigates a world fundamentally transformed by war.

Barry Keoghan’s character leading a younger contingent of Peaky Blinders suggests the film will explore generational dynamics within the criminal organization. Has Tommy’s exile created space for new leadership? Do these younger gangsters represent Tommy’s protégés, or do they challenge his authority? The ambiguity surrounding these questions has only heightened anticipation for the film.

Steven Knight’s Vision for the Film

Creator Steven Knight has promised that Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man will deliver an explosive chapter worthy of the franchise’s theatrical debut. “It will be an explosive chapter in the Peaky Blinders story,” Knight declared. “No holds barred. Full-on Peaky Blinders at war.”

The wartime setting allows Knight to explore new dimensions of the Shelby family’s criminal empire. World War II created unprecedented opportunities for black market operations, intelligence work, and collaboration with government authorities desperate for any advantage against Nazi Germany. These historical realities provide a perfect backdrop for the morally complex storytelling that defined the television series.

Knight has also emphasized that while the film serves as a conclusion to Tommy Shelby’s story, it opens doors for future narratives. “I’m thrilled to see the cameras rolling on this new chapter of the Peaky Blinders story, set during World War II,” he stated. “The country is at war, and so, of course, are our Peaky Blinders.”

The Immortal Man Production Details

The Star-Studded Ensemble Cast

Barry Keoghan joins an impressive ensemble that blends beloved returning characters with exciting new additions. Cillian Murphy leads as Tommy Shelby in what has been described as his final performance in the role, fresh off his Academy Award triumph for Oppenheimer. The Oscar win has only amplified the cultural significance of Murphy’s return to the character that made him a global icon.

Sophie Rundle reprises her role as Ada Thorne, Tommy’s politically conscious sister who was handed control of the family business in the series finale. Her relationship with Barry Keoghan’s character will be particularly intriguing, as Ada represents both continuity with the Shelby legacy and a potentially reformist approach to the family’s criminal operations.

Complete Cast of The Immortal Man

Among the newcomers, Rebecca Ferguson plays Kaulo, a mysterious Swedish character who serves as an ally to Tommy Shelby. Tim Roth adds another layer of acting prestige, while Jay Lycurgo rounds out the fresh faces entering Birmingham’s criminal landscape. The combination of franchise veterans and acclaimed new talent suggests the Peaky Blinders movie will honor its television roots while expanding its cinematic ambitions.

What Barry Keoghan Brings to Peaky Blinders

Barry Keoghan’s filmography demonstrates exactly why he’s perfect for leading a new generation of Peaky Blinders. His breakout role in The Killing of a Sacred Deer showcased his ability to portray characters with unsettling intensity lurking beneath surface charm. In The Banshees of Inisherin, he delivered a BAFTA-winning performance as a young man desperate for connection yet ultimately self-destructive—themes that resonate deeply with Peaky Blinders’ exploration of masculine violence and loyalty.

Most recently, Saltburn revealed Barry Keoghan’s range in portraying class resentment, manipulation, and the seductive danger of someone who feels they deserve more than life has given them. These are precisely the qualities that would define a young gangster rising through Birmingham’s criminal hierarchy during wartime, when traditional power structures are disrupted and ambitious men see opportunities to seize control.

Barry Keoghan’s physicality also suits the Peaky Blinders aesthetic perfectly. His ability to convey threat through stillness rather than bluster aligns with the show’s portrayal of gangsters as calculating businessmen who resort to violence when necessary rather than as mindless thugs. The first look images show him with the same coiled intensity that defined Murphy’s Tommy Shelby, suggesting he’ll embody the franchise’s distinctive approach to gangster storytelling.

Tom Harper Returns to Direct

Tom Harper’s involvement as director represents a homecoming for the franchise. Harper directed episodes of Peaky Blinders’ first season in 2013, helping establish the show’s distinctive visual language combining gritty realism with stylized cinematography. His return ensures continuity with the television series while bringing fresh perspective informed by his subsequent feature film experience.

“When I first directed Peaky Blinders over 10 years ago, we didn’t know what the series would become, but we did know that there was something in the alchemy of the cast and the writing that felt explosive,” Harper reflected. “Peaky has always been a story about family—and so it’s incredibly exciting to be reuniting with Steve and Cillian to bring the movie to audiences across the world on Netflix.”

Harper’s emphasis on family as the franchise’s core theme suggests Barry Keoghan’s character will be integrated into the Shelby family dynamics in meaningful ways. Is he a blood relative, a protégé, or an outsider earning his place through loyalty and capability? The answer will likely define much of the film’s emotional journey.

Release Strategy: Theatrical and Streaming

Netflix has crafted a dual-release strategy for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man that honors both the franchise’s cinematic ambitions and its streaming roots. The film will debut in select theaters worldwide on March 6, 2026, before arriving on Netflix for global streaming on March 20, 2026.

This approach reflects growing recognition that prestigious content deserves theatrical exhibition, even for streaming platforms. The two-week window allows fans to experience Barry Keoghan leading the new generation of Peaky Blinders on the big screen while building anticipation for the wider Netflix release.

Release Information

The Future Beyond The Immortal Man

While Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man has been described as Cillian Murphy’s final outing as Tommy Shelby, it’s not the end of the franchise. Netflix confirmed in October 2025 that a new Peaky Blinders sequel series is in development, set 17 years after the original show and focusing on a new generation of Shelbys rising from the ashes of the Birmingham Blitz.

This announcement raises intriguing possibilities for Barry Keoghan’s character. Could he bridge the gap between the movie and the sequel series? Might his character survive The Immortal Man to become a mentor figure in the new generation’s story? The deliberate secrecy surrounding his role suggests it may be more significant than a simple supporting part.

Steven Knight has promised the sequel series will be “rooted in Birmingham and will tell the story of a city rising from the ashes of the Birmingham blitz.” Murphy will return as executive producer, ensuring continuity with the franchise’s established vision even as new characters take center stage.

Why Barry Keoghan Is Perfect for This Role

Barry Keoghan’s casting as the leader of a new Peaky Blinders generation represents perfect synergy between actor and material. His career has been defined by playing outsiders who navigate violent, hierarchical worlds through intelligence, charm, and ruthlessness when necessary—precisely the qualities that define successful gangsters in the Peaky Blinders universe.

The actor’s Irish background also connects authentically to the franchise’s exploration of working-class identity and immigrant communities in industrial Britain. Like Murphy, Barry Keoghan brings genuine understanding of the social and economic forces that drive men toward criminal enterprise as a path to dignity and power.

Perhaps most importantly, Barry Keoghan has proven his ability to hold the screen opposite heavyweight performers without being overshadowed. His Oscar-nominated work opposite Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in The Banshees of Inisherin demonstrated he can match any co-star’s intensity. This quality will be essential when sharing scenes with Murphy’s Tommy Shelby, one of television’s most iconic characters.

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