After Peaky BlindersWith the epic conclusion in 2022, it seemed like the series was done for good, but the franchise's future plans bode positively for Tommy's fate in the next film. The critically acclaimed drama surprised viewers with its gripping story following Thomas Shelby and his criminal gang slowly growing their empire after the First World War. Although the plot ends definitively, a Peaky Blinders The film has been confirmed and is set to debut on Netflix with the project wrapping up filming in mid-December, suggesting a late 2025 or potential 2026 release date for the project.
Alongside Cillian Murphy and many other series regulars reprising their roles in the film project, names like Barry Keoghan, Rebecca Ferguson and Eli Roth also joined the Peaky Blinders film cast. Murphy's stock has only grown since he last played the character, as his Oscar-winning performance in Oppenheimer makes his return to the dramatic franchise all the more exciting. However, with Tommy barely surviving the finale, fans will naturally be worried that he will suffer a tragic end in the next film, but an update on the franchise's future suggests that won't be the case.
Peaky Blinders continuing after the film makes Tommy Shelby's survival more likely
Tommy looks set to be part of future Peaky Blinders projects
While the next Peaky Blinders the film will undoubtedly have a lot of action and emotion, it seems unlikely that Tommy will die now that the story will continue beyond the film project. Whether it will be in the form of another film or a potential seventh season is unclear, but Steven Knight has commented on Peaky Blinders' future following the film and stated "It won't be the end", meaning that Tommy will likely survive. If the franchise had chosen to conclude with this next chapter, the protagonist could have potentially met his demise, but with more projects in the works, Tommy's journey is destined to continue.
His death isn't out of the question, as the series has killed off some major characters in the past, but it's hard to see the main narrative continuing for long without the protagonist. With the Peaky Blinders film set during World War II in the timeline, the setting initially put Tommy at risk given how brutal a period in history it was. Fortunately, his immediate death no longer appears to be in the cards, and with Murphy becoming a bigger star than ever, having more Thomas Shelby can only be a good thing for the franchise going forward.
It's possible that Peaky Blinders will continue through spinoffs (without Tommy)
The franchise has already confirmed some television shows set in the same universe
Steve Knight Peaky Blinders The update could indicate that Tommy's life won't be in grave danger when the franchise makes its big-screen debut, but he could still be absent from future spinoffs. With several Peaky Blinders spinoffs already confirmed in the works, it's unlikely that Cillian Murphy will appear in the Boston show or the Polly prequel, meaning the franchise is prepared to continue without Tommy. Naturally, he'll still be a big part of the overall narrative, but With upcoming projects likely to introduce memorable new characters, a future without Tommy seems more viable than ever.
Murphy has played the character for over a decade and, with the actor's reputation on the rise, he may pursue other projects, limiting his time on the series. Peaky Blinders universe.
The franchise may refuse to kill off its protagonist because his legacy is too great and the option of bringing him back will always be attractive. However, Murphy has played the character for over a decade, and with the actor's reputation on the rise, he may pursue other projects, limiting his time on the series. Peaky Blinders universe. Additionally, the franchise appears to be expanding even further with its upcoming spinoffs, meaning more could be greenlit in the future if the current ideas are a success.
So even if Tommy remains alive and is used in certain projects, Peaky Blinders will almost certainly choose to pursue new stories. Hopefully Tommy's journey will continue for many years to come along with the spinoffs, but either way, the franchise appears to have a lot of life thanks to its compelling characters and endless potential.
Can Peaky Blinders really work without Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby?
Peaky Blinders may succeed either way, but Tommy is the heart and soul of the story
With two non-Tommy spinoffs already in the works, it seems like more could happen in the future, creating questions about whether Peaky Blinders can survive without Murphy's Tommy Shelby. The short answer is yes. While Tommy is clearly a crucial part of the main story, the franchise can always focus on other aspects of the universe. Boston spinoff hints that future shows or films could explore other parts of the world away from Birmingham and England, with Scotland and Ireland both being strong options, along with the potential for internationalization once again to focus on completely new characters.
Even though the Peaky Blinders gang themselves are the heart of the franchise, there are more than enough compelling historical groups that the drama series could feature to keep things going. The Birmingham-based gang itself has many interesting members outside of Tommy who have the potential to drive the main story forward; however, continuing the overall narrative without Murphy's character could be tricky. Peaky Blinders is undeniably a stronger IP, with Tommy Shelby leading it, but if it decides to explore stories away from the criminal mastermind, there's no doubt it could still be a huge success.