Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man' Struggles With Too Much Baggage

Cillian Murphy's return as Tommy Shelby feels more like an extended episode than a full-fledged feature film.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 8:53pm

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Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, the new Netflix film set in the Peaky Blinders universe, follows the familiar one-last-job template as Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) is drawn back into the fray to save his son Duke (Barry Keoghan). While the film features some of the series' signature gritty and absurdist moments, it struggles to fully break free from the weight of the show's six-season mythology.

Why it matters

The Immortal Man represents Cillian Murphy's highly anticipated return to the role of Tommy Shelby, a character who has become a cultural icon since the debut of Peaky Blinders in 2013. However, the film faces the challenge of balancing fan service with the need to evolve the story and introduce new characters, all while living up to the high bar set by the acclaimed TV series.

The details

The film follows the classic one-last-job premise, with Tommy being pulled back into the criminal underworld to save his son Duke, who is in trouble. This sets up a confrontation between father and son, including a memorable mud-soaked fight scene. The film also introduces a new character, a mystical sex witch, who helps propel Tommy back into action. While these scenes capture the gritty and absurdist tone that made Peaky Blinders a hit, the film struggles to fully break free from the weight of the show's extensive mythology, leaving it feeling more like an extended episode than a fully realized feature.

  • Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man debuts on Netflix on March 20, 2026.
  • The final season of the Peaky Blinders TV series aired in 2022.

The players

Tommy Shelby

The central character of the Peaky Blinders universe, played by Cillian Murphy, a former gang leader who has become a cultural icon.

Duke Shelby

Tommy Shelby's son, played by Barry Keoghan, who finds himself in trouble and draws his father back into the criminal underworld.

Steven Knight

The creator of the Peaky Blinders TV series, who wrote and directed The Immortal Man film.

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What’s next

The Immortal Man is intended to serve as a bridge between the Peaky Blinders TV series and a new generation of Shelby family stories, setting the stage for future projects in the franchise.

The takeaway

While The Immortal Man struggles to fully break free from the weight of the Peaky Blinders legacy, it still manages to capture the gritty and absurdist tone that made the TV series a hit. The film serves as a reminder of why audiences fell in love with Tommy Shelby in the first place, while also hinting at the potential for new stories to come in the Peaky Blinders universe.