Fans of Peaky Blinders, prepare yourselves: the streets of Birmingham are far from quiet. Netflix and the BBC have officially greenlit not one, but two new sequel series — each comprising six hour-long episodes — that will usher in a new generation of Shelbys.
These series will pick up after the events of the upcoming feature film, THE IMMORTAL MAN, currently in post-production. Filming is slated to take place in Birmingham at Digbeth Loc. Studios — a symbolic return to the show’s roots.
The original Peaky Blinders largely explored crime, family, and political power during the interwar and early 20th-century urban underworld. The sequel opens in 1953, a city rebuilding from WWII bombing. The logline nails the tone:
“After being heavily bombed in WWII, Birmingham is building a better future out of concrete and steel. … The race to own Birmingham’s massive reconstruction project becomes a brutal contest … the Shelby family right at its blood-soaked heart.”
This is more than gang warfare on the streets — it’s a war over industry, influence, and the very shape of a city. Unlike before, the Shelbys may not be exclusively underworld players — they’ll compete amid urban planning, political contracts, and economic revival.
Passing the Torch
Central to this reboot is the handoff from Tommy Shelby’s generation to a new lineage. While the original cast and framework remain (with Cillian Murphy returning as executive producer), the narrative will lean into younger Shelbys stepping up — making moves, forging alliances, or fracturing the legacy. (People.com) This generational shift allows fresh character dynamics and conflicts rooted in continuity.
Continuity Through The Immortal Man
The film THE IMMORTAL MAN acts as the bridge between the old Peaky world and this new era. It’s set during WWII, with Murphy returning to the role of Tommy Shelby and an ensemble cast including Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Stephen Graham, and Barry Keoghan. The series, then, picks up immediately afterward — flushing out the consequences of postwar chaos and power vacuums.
Why This Sequel Matters — for Fans, for the Franchise
1. Evolving the Mythology
By moving into the 1950s, the new series evolves Peaky Blinders beyond what it was. It becomes not just a gangster saga, but a story about reconstruction, legacy, and modernity clashing with old loyalties.
2. Balancing Nostalgia & Innovation
Fans will want echoes of the original: architectural backdrops of Birmingham, Shelby bloodlines, high-stakes confrontations, stylistic violence. But they’ll also demand fresh narratives, new characters, and internal tensions that feel earned rather than derivative.
3. Expanding the World Without Dismantling It
This strategy lets Peaky Blinders remain a living franchise — the film serves as a capstone to the original arc, and the series continues in a new dimension. It’s a model of how to reboot without erasing what came before.
4. Cultural & Industrial Significance
Shooting in Birmingham is more than practical — it’s symbolic. It reinforces the show’s ties to its geographic origin and supports continued investment in UK regional production. The co-production between BBC, Netflix, Kudos, and Garrison Drama also signals confidence in international audiences.
