Tommy Shelby, the ruthless and charismatic gang leader from Peaky Blinders, remains a captivating figure more than a decade since his introduction, largely due to Cillian Murphy’s intricate portrayal. Now returning in Netflix’s new film The Immortal Man, Murphy steps back into the shoes of Tommy as the character confronts the challenges facing his family’s legacy during World War Two.
The complex anti-hero has been a mainstay of the series, infamous for his brutal actions yet compelling in his layered humanity, a duality that continues to engage fans. Despite Tommy’s violent and often treacherous behavior throughout six seasons, viewers remain deeply invested in his story.
Exploring Tommy Shelby’s Enduring Appeal Through Long-Form Storytelling
As Murphy prepares to embody Tommy Shelby once again, he reflects on the factors that contribute to the character’s lasting popularity. The actor credits long-form television with allowing audiences to fully experience the complexities of Tommy’s persona over an extended period.
“It allows you to really explore all the light and shade, all the different complexities that characters can have,”
Murphy explains, emphasizing the humanity behind the gangster and stylised narrative. He points out that the consequences of violence in the show are palpable and persistent, making the storyline more grounded despite its heightened drama.
Long-running storytelling fosters a unique intimacy with characters as viewers witness their vulnerabilities and flaws over time, an experience Murphy feels is difficult to replicate in film.
“If you spend that length of time with a character, you will begin to invest in them in an emotional, kind of intimate way, which you don’t always get with films,”
he adds.
Tim Roth, Murphy’s co-star in The Immortal Man, also recognizes the advantages of the format, noting that individual character traits can be examined more deeply in a television series than in movies.
“You can do a whole episode on one aspect of a character and investigate it, whereas you don’t necessarily have the time to do that cinematically,”
Roth says.
“This is gangster and stylised but there’s a great deal of humanity in it”
– Cillian Murphy, Actor
Despite the acclaim for his portrayal, Murphy humbly credits the show’s success more to its audience than to his own performance.
“It’s very humbling when it does, but I do think that’s the fans doing,”
he remarks.
How Peaky Blinders and Cillian Murphy Elevated Birmingham’s Cultural Image
Murphy, originally from Cork, has also helped put Birmingham — the setting for Peaky Blinders — on the cultural map. His careful adoption of the city’s distinctive Brummie accent, particularly the Shelby family’s Small Heath roots, reflects a commitment to authenticity that has earned positive responses from locals.
“Originally when we started doing it, I would leave voice messages on [series creator] Steve Knight’s phone because he’s a true-blue Brummie, and he would let me know if I was getting close,”
Murphy shares.
From the outset, Murphy chose not to exaggerate the accent or lean into stereotypical portrayals. He wanted to avoid the comedic depictions of Brummies seen in other shows like Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Instead, he aimed to present Tommy Shelby as a cool, enigmatic figure, mirroring the real complexity and mystique of Birmingham itself.
“There’s always been this kind of comedic version of the Brummies,”
Murphy says, with Roth adding that comedian Joe Lycett, also from the West Midlands, contributed to modern perceptions of the region.
“I wanted to avoid the comedic version of the Brummies”
– Cillian Murphy, Actor
The show’s rigorous filming schedule demanded discipline, as it produced six hours of content in the time usually allotted to a single feature film. Murphy appreciates how this high-quality, cinematic approach has been maintained throughout the series, attributing much of its depth to the finely crafted scripts.
He reflects,
“To be given that level of quality of writing for that length of time, and for the story to have gotten richer and deeper, more satisfying for us, and for the fans that have been so loyal and stayed with the show. It’s been a huge part of my life.”
The New Antagonist Beckett and His Dynamic with Tommy Shelby
Tim Roth joins The Immortal Man as Beckett, a Nazi sympathizer who poses a dangerous threat to Tommy Shelby and his family during wartime. Roth brings a distinct interpretation to the character, who was originally conceived with a more aristocratic and militaristic demeanor.
Roth describes his version as akin to a “geography teacher,” adding a subtle layer of fatherly pretense to Beckett’s persona, which eventually takes on a more authentic tone throughout the story.
Beckett collaborates with Duke, Tommy’s illegitimate son, leveraging the Peaky Blinders’ criminal connections to further Nazi objectives. Roth finds personal resonance with the wartime narrative, relating it to his father’s experiences during the same era.
“You really felt when you were there, it’s almost payback for the loyalty of the fans and the enjoyment that they have. It’s quite an extraordinary place to be,”
Roth comments on the project’s cinematic ambition.
“[Tommy and Beckett] are equals and opposite sides of the coin”
– Tim Roth, Actor
The relationship between Tommy and Beckett is intense and charged, although their direct screen time together is limited. Murphy describes their dynamic as one where both characters are
“equals and opposite sides of the coin,”
with a mutual influence despite minimal interaction.
Tommy initially considers cooperating with Beckett, but the partnership sours as Beckett becomes entwined with Tommy’s son, forcing a strategic reassessment.
The Impact of a Formidable Foe on Tommy Shelby’s Story
The introduction of Beckett as Tommy’s adversary raises the stakes in The Immortal Man, offering new challenges for the iconic character to overcome. Roth highlights the importance of crafting a worthy opponent to keep the story compelling.
“You need to create a big enough mountain for these guys to climb over, to conquer. And I think [Steve Knight] did such a good job in writing that,”
Roth explains.
The Immortal Man premieres in cinemas across the UK and US, with an exclusive Netflix streaming release on March 20. This fresh chapter gives fans the chance to witness Tommy Shelby confront not only external threats but also the personal consequences of his past decisions.
