Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight reveals how the upcoming movie The Immortal Man raises the stakes for protagonist Tommy Shelby. Knight’s iconic BBC crime drama charted the rise to power of petty criminal turned politician Tommy Shelby, who builds a criminal empire in the backstreets of post-World War I Birmingham, and encounters many social and political changes, including the rise of communism, conflicts with rival gangs, the Wall Street Crash, and more. The show received critical acclaim for its layered ensemble characters and engaging story, and the movie looks set to conclude the story.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Knight talked about The Immortal Man, and how the movie will examine Tommy’s mental state, and raise the stakes for his character’s arc. He discussed that the movie will take place in Birmingham just after the start of World War II and that it sees Tommy amid an existential crisis, against a backdrop of hedonism and fatalism. He went on to conclude that the movie has a strong cast of British heavyweights, and called it “phenomenally good.” Check out Knight’s comments below:

ScreenRant: You’ve described The Immortal Man as a fitting end to the first chapter of Peaky Blinders. How does this new chapter evolve Tommy Shelby’s story, and what does the cinematic scale add to the Peaky Blinders experience?

Steven Knight: Yeah, it’s set during 1940, when Birmingham was being carpet-bombed every night by the German Air Force. So, obviously the stakes are higher. People don’t know if they’re going to live until tomorrow morning. There’s a lot of hedonism, there’s a lot of fatalism, and you’re throwing into that Tommy Shelby who was having his own existential crisis. The stakes are all much higher.

The budget’s bigger, and let’s be honest, that helps. I would say this, but the cast I think is the best British cast that we could possibly have gotten into one place. They are all at the top of their game. I’ve seen rushes and ᴀssemblies, and I’m seeing the first cut in a couple of weeks. It is phenomenally good.

What These Comments Mean For The Immortal Man & Tommy Shelby’s Story

The Concluding Chapter Of Peaky Blinders Part 1 Is Set To Bookend Tommy’s Epic Tale

One of Peaky Blinders‘ greatest strengths as a show was its collection of morally gray characters, and none were grayer and more complex than Tommy. His rise to power is the focal point of the series, but he is always cut from the cloth of an antihero and could be viewed as a bad man who, throughout the show, has done some good deeds. But it is fair to say that Tommy’s mental state was on the decline at the end of the series, especially with his fake cancer diagnosis, and The Immortal Man is likely to present a man on the edge.

Knight’s comments paint an interesting picture, bringing Tommy into a more modern landscape than the one he ascended to power in, and new threats and alliances are certain to play a prominent part. It will be interesting to see the direction Knight chooses to take with Tommy’s story, whether the once-great character will have spent years as a recluse, and how his mental state will have been impacted. There is a good chance that The Immortal Man may choose to kill off Tommy Shelby, to bookend his story, and set up a potential second phase for Peaky Blinders.

Our Verdict On The Immortal Man

The Movie Could Be An Epic Conclusion To The Peaky Blinders Story

While it’s unclear if any of Peaky Blinders‘ iconic villains will appear in the movie, Tommy will be central to the story. His complex arc will likely see him on a road to redemption, and move away from antihero or even antagonist territory, as well as wrestling with guilt over killing Michael. World War II feels like a natural bookend to the story, which began in the aftermath of World War I, and it makes sense to chronicle Tommy’s life throughout this time, which makes The Immortal Man an intriguing conclusion to the story.