Cillian Murphy has shared insights about the upcoming film The Immortal Man, which centers on the Peaky Blinders clashing with Nazis who are collaborating with British gangsters to destabilize the UK economy. Speaking ahead of the movie’s release, Murphy expressed his discomfort with the recent rise in extremist ideologies but emphasized that the film is not designed to dictate audience emotions. Instead, he encouraged viewers to interpret the story on multiple levels, drawing a comparison with his role in the Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer.
Murphy explained that just as Oppenheimer can be seen as either a serious reflection on global dangers or simply an entertaining movie with dramatic effects, The Immortal Man offers a layered experience depending on how deeply it is analyzed.
If you want to talk about where we are in the world and look at how close we are to nuclear fucking Armageddon, you can think about ‘Oppenheimer’ in that way, but if you just want to look at a great film with big explosions then that’s cool as well.
As anticipation grows, the movie is scheduled to hit select theaters soon, marking the Peaky Blinders’ return to the big screen after the acclaimed TV series.
Balancing Entertainment and Thoughtfulness in The Immortal Man
Murphy made it clear that The Immortal Man is not intended as a heavy-handed or dogmatic film. Unlike more serious historical dramas, this movie aims to be a compelling mainstream action feature with emotional depth. While it doesn’t aim to preach, it hopes to raise questions that provoke reflection among viewers willing to look beyond surface thrills.
The actor acknowledged the importance of films engaging audiences on more than one dimension, emphasizing that the best popular entertainment operates both as fun and as a prompt for deeper thought.
But then this film wears that lightly — it’s not ‘The Zone of Interest,’ let’s put it that way. And, look, the last thing I want to be involved in is preachy or dogmatic work because films should never tell you how to feel. They should just ask questions. This should be an entertaining action film with a big heart, but if you want to look closer it could be provocative too. The best mainstream entertainment operates simultaneously on those levels.
Murphy’s return as Thomas Shelby continues to generate interest, building on the strong foundation of the show’s six-season on television and the creative vision of Steven Knight.
The Future of Cillian Murphy and the Peaky Blinders Franchise
Following a successful television run, extending the Peaky Blinders storyline through a feature film posed a challenge to maintain the original show’s quality and legacy. Steven Knight was committed to telling a wartime story, and Murphy explained that great care was taken to ensure the film’s worthiness and alignment with the series’ standards.
Regarding what lies ahead for Murphy, the actor described the film as a fitting
“bookend to the whole 36 hours of television,”
indicating that this may be his final appearance as Thomas Shelby.
The Peaky Blinders franchise itself is expected to continue expanding, with a sequel television series in development. Murphy will contribute as an executive producer on this new project, signaling his ongoing involvement behind the scenes even if his role on screen concludes.
The release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is scheduled for March 6, 2026, in theaters, with streaming availability on Netflix starting March 20, 2026. Fans are eagerly awaiting how the film will be received and its impact on the enduring legacy of the Peaky Blinders saga.
