Cillian Murphy is returning to the world of Peaky Blinders, not in front of the camera this time but behind it, after Netflix and the BBC confirmed a two-season sequel series set in postwar Birmingham. The announcement extends the life of one of British television’s most successful crime dramas well beyond its original six-season run, with Murphy stepping into an executive producer role alongside series creator Steven Knight.
Cillian Murphy Takes on Producer Role: What Is The New Peaky Blinders Series About?
The sequel is set in 1953, more than a decade after the events of the original series, and follows a new generation of the Shelby family as they battle for control of Birmingham’s sprawling postwar reconstruction project.
According to the show’s official plot description, the city is rebuilding itself out of concrete and steel after being heavily bombed during the Second World War, turning the redevelopment effort into what producers have called a brutal contest of mythical dimensions, with the Shelby family once again at its centre.
Knight, announcing the project, said, “I’m thrilled to be announcing this new chapter in the Peaky Blinders story,” adding that the tale would once again be rooted in Birmingham and would follow a city rising from the ashes of the Blitz.
What Has Cillian Murphy Said About Returning?
Although Murphy will not reprise his role as Tommy Shelby on screen for the new series, given its focus on a younger generation of the family, he has spoken warmly about returning to the project in a producing capacity. Reflecting on the decision to get involved again, Murphy said, “It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn’t finished with me,” a remark that has resonated with fans following years of speculation about the character’s future beyond the original series and its accompanying film.
Cillian Murphy Takes on Producer Role: Who Else Is Involved Behind The Scenes?
The two new seasons, each consisting of six hour-long episodes, will be produced by Kudos, the company behind SAS: Rogue Heroes and House of Guinness, alongside Garrison Drama, which produced all six seasons of the original Peaky Blinders.
Filming is set to take place in Birmingham at Digbeth Loc. Studios. Beyond Knight and Murphy, the production’s executive producer roster includes Karen Wilson and Martin Haines for Kudos, Jamie Glazebrook for Garrison Drama, and further representatives from both the BBC and Netflix overseeing the show for their respective broadcast territories.
Cillian Murphy Takes on Producer Role: How Does This Follow The New Film?
The sequel series builds on the momentum of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, a feature film that bridges the original series and this new chapter, following the Shelby family into the Second World War. The film, which stars Murphy alongside Barry Keoghan and Rebecca Ferguson, has performed strongly with critics, earning a Certified Fresh rating of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes since its release.
Its success is widely seen as having paved the way for Netflix and the BBC’s decision to commit to a full sequel series rather than treating the film as a standalone conclusion to the saga.
Cillian Murphy Takes on Producer Role: How Is The Show Honouring Sam Neill?
The announcement also arrives at a poignant moment for the Peaky Blinders family, following the death of Sam Neill, who played the ruthless detective chief inspector Chester Campbell in the show’s first two seasons, in July at the age of 78. Paying tribute at the time, the show’s official account wrote that Neill was one of the key forces that got Peaky Blinders off to a running start, expressing gratitude for his contribution to the series’ early success.
Murphy also offered his own tribute following Neill’s death, describing him as one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors he had worked with. As the cast and crew continue to reflect on that loss, many involved with the new series have spoken of hoping to honour Neill’s legacy through the continuation of the storytelling he helped establish more than a decade ago.
