Peaky Blinders
actor Finn Cole has weighed in on the new-look upcoming sequel movie The Immortal Man. The film stars returning series lead Cillian Murphy and is written by creator Steven Knight, and though it’s confirmed to be set during the Second World War, the story remains under wraps. Filming is complete, though Netflix has yet to announce a release date for The Immortal Man.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cole, who played the character of Michael Gray in the hit BBC crime-drama, discusses the upcoming movie and its cast, which he notes is seemingly completely different from the original show. Michael died in Peaky Blinders season 6 and Cole confirms he doesn’t return in spectral form, but he’s looking forward to seeing it regardless. Check out Cole’s comments below:
Tommy has long been haunted by the ghosts of his past, so how likely are we to see Ghost Michael in the upcoming movie, The Immortal Man?
I’d love to say that the ghost of Michael comes back, but no, I don’t know anything about the movie. It seems like there’s a whole new cast, and I have no idea what happens in it. So I’m finally going to get to watch it as a fan that I’ve always been, and I can’t wait. I think it’s going to be brilliant. Steven and Cillian are a great, great team, and I don’t doubt that the fans are going to love it. I’m just so grateful that I was a part of that journey and that I could be a part of it for so long. It holds a very special place in my heart and always will.
What These Comments Mean For The Peaky Blinders Movie
The Difference Between TV & Movies Could Have Necessitated Casting Changes
Cole’s comments suggest that there will not be many of the cast of Peaky Blinders returning for the movie, though given how many characters appear in the show, this isn’t too surprising. Only a handful of the cast of the show are set to return for the movie, including Murphy, Sophie Rundle, Stephen Graham, Packy Lee, and Ian Peck. However, the narrative differences between film and TV often necessitate the need for casting changes and cutting down the number of legacy characters who return might make it easy to tell the story in the best possible way.
The Immortal Man will have a more limited cast, and a less expansive, slow-burn story, and this could be just what it needs.
It seems clear that Murphy’s Tommy Shelby will be the focal point of the movie, with a combination of new and legacy characters joining him. Trying to bring back every character from the show creates problems, especially with a more limited runtime, and also necessitates the need for other characters to also return, and the cast list becomes too big for the story. While Michael returning as a ghost to haunt Tommy’s guilt-ridden subconscious could have worked, it feels like The Immortal Man is striving to work as a standalone movie that can be enjoyed by seasoned fans and newcomers.
Our Verdict On The Immortal Man’s Cast Differences
The Unexpected Approach Could Be Just What The Movie Needs
Peaky Blinders was an iconic show, but long-form storytelling doesn’t work with limited run-time. The Immortal Man will have a more limited cast, and a less expansive, slow-burn story, and this could be just what it needs. Tommy Shelby was a man who wanted the world, but once he got it, discovered it wasn’t what he’d hoped. I would expect The Immortal Man to be a character study of Tommy Shelby as a man looking to leave his old life behind and find meaning in the simpler things, but having to deal with the ghosts of the past and finally achieve peace.
Source: THR
