The Peaky Blinders Movie Already Has the Perfect Villain Thank to the Show’s Final Episode (& It Doesn’t Involve Tommy Shelby)

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Many consider Peaky Blinders one of the best shows of the last ten years, and fans have long known the story would continue with a sequel movie called The Immortal Man. However, after a short break, creator Stephen Knight has decided to expand Tommy Shelby’s story even further. The movie won’t be the end of the Peaky Blinders saga; a follow-up series has been confirmed to air in the years ahead. Cillian Murphy will still star, and the movie will introduce the main antagonist for future installments.

As a huge fan of Peaky Blinders, one of the biggest surprises in the final season was definitely learning about Tommy Shelby’s secret son, Duke. It didn’t take long for Duke to get involved in the family’s…activities. Now, Steven Knight is really building Duke up as a key player in the upcoming The Immortal Man movie, with Barry Keoghan doing a fantastic job in the role. But honestly, I have a feeling Duke’s part in the movie won’t be quite what we’re all expecting. It’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out!

The Final Season of Peaky Blinders Sets Up A Lot of Disloyalty

Loyalty is a central idea in Peaky Blinders. Because the Shelby family makes its living through crime, true loyalty within the family is often complicated and difficult to maintain. This has been a recurring issue for the Shelbys from the start, and it’s only become more pronounced over time. Even in the early days, with Tommy, Arthur, John, and Polly in charge, there were instances of distrust and betrayal as each member pursued what they believed was best for the family. Ultimately, Thomas Shelby consistently demonstrated his ability to make the right decisions, even if it meant upsetting those he cared about.

Watching Tommy and Michael’s relationship fall apart was honestly heartbreaking. Michael just got consumed by wanting more, and when Tommy gave him a reason to feel wronged, things really spiraled. But honestly, the last season of Peaky Blinders felt like everyone was turning on each other from the inside. There was so much fighting within the Shelby family, and even though Tommy thought he was securing the future, it felt like he was actually leaving everything in chaos. It was a tough watch, seeing the family crumble like that.

Tommy is caught in a dangerous world of fighting fascism and dealing with competing groups, all while trying to manage his family and business. Despite everything falling apart around him, he usually manages to resolve the conflicts he faces. However, he’s deeply shaken by the loss of his daughter and the discovery that he has the same illness that took her life. These events profoundly change his perspective. Ironically, it later comes out that his diagnosis was a cruel trick played on him by his enemies, but the impact on him remains.

By then, Tommy had managed to shift how his son, Duke, thought about things. This new perspective led Duke to make rapid changes to the family business, and surprisingly, it quickly started to fall apart. Now that Tommy has stepped back, it’s unclear if he’ll get involved if problems arise. Given that a crisis is brewing, it’s likely Tommy won’t approve of what’s happened while he’s been away. Ultimately, Tommy is no longer in charge, Duke is running things, and the business is facing a new challenge.

It Doesn’t Look Like Finn Shelby Is Returning To The Peaky Blinders Movie

Throughout the original series, Finn Shelby hasn’t stood out as a particularly compelling or powerful character. He joins the family business later than his brothers and, even then, mostly follows Thomas’s lead. Finn isn’t seen as a natural leader, and his attempts to help the family ultimately lead to a poor choice.

Finn feels deeply betrayed when Tommy announces Duke as his successor, and it doesn’t take long for Duke to seize control. While many fans expected a fierce rivalry between Finn and Duke, actor Harry Kirton, who played Finn, doesn’t appear to be in the movie’s cast. He’s also absent from the full trailer, suggesting the film won’t focus on a power struggle within the Shelby family. The released footage shows Duke firmly in charge of the Peaky Blinders without any opposition, although it seems Tommy may have inadvertently created a dangerous adversary.

Duke Could Turn Into the Villain of The Immortal Man

The story takes place in Birmingham, England, during 1940, right in the middle of World War II. While the world is at war, Duke is struggling to lead the Peaky Blinders, and Ada points out that things are being run the same way they were back in 1919. Thomas Shelby has left organized crime behind, hoping for a different life after everything he’s lost. However, after years of trying to escape that world, it’s becoming clear that he’s needed once again.

Tommy Shelby is a natural protector of his family and always strives to keep them safe, but Duke is causing trouble. Tim Roth portrays Beckett, a British man who supports fascist ideologies, and is shown conspiring with Duke, attempting to recruit him to aid the Nazis. Viewers of Peaky Blinders will recall Tommy’s strong opposition to fascism throughout the series, making the idea of the Blinders aligning with Nazism completely unacceptable to him.

I was really struck by Duke’s words – he basically said the world doesn’t care about him, and he doesn’t care about it either. It honestly feels like he’s considering aligning himself with some truly awful people, reminiscent of figures from World War Two. I’m not sure what’s driving him to this, but it wouldn’t surprise me if greed is playing a role. We’ve seen that side of the family before, especially with Michael, and things didn’t end well for him. It seems like Duke might be trying to create his own power base, and I worry that will bring him into conflict with Ada and Tommy, who I know would never stand for fascism within their organization.

Although Duke is Tommy Shelby’s son, he didn’t grow up with the same values as the Shelby family. This difference in upbringing could lead to conflict between them, even as they share conversations. When questioned about stepping away from the Blinders, Tommy reveals to Hayden Stagg that he’s actually become more involved than ever. The story shows Tommy’s return and his struggle with Duke over the future of the Birmingham gang. Barry Keoghan’s character, Duke, is set to be a formidable villain, and his confrontation with Tommy Shelby promises to be a major highlight.

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2026-03-05 20:08