Series creator Steven Knight has confirmed that Tommy Shelby himself, Cillian Murphy, will be returning for the film adaptation of Peaky Blinders.
Talk of a Peaky Blinders movie has been rumbling ever since the final season of the hit British gangster show began airing back in 2022, but full confirmation of a feature-length film came back in January, with Knight insisting that filming would begin by September this year.
Better still, screenwriter and director Steven Knight (also known for other BBC cult favourites like Taboo) has now cleared up the confusion and speculation as to whether lead actor Cillian Murphy will be returning for the next installation in the Peaky Blinders franchise.
In a word, his answer was “Definitely”.
Cillian Murphy will officially return for the ‘PEAKY BLINDERS’ movie. 🎬
Now confirmed by the creator himself, Cillian Murphy will ‘definitely’ be in the Peaky Blinders film.
Speaking to local Midlands outlet Birmingham World, Knight said that not only have the finishing touches been put on the final script for the film but that the 47-year-old and now Oscar-winning actor is signed on to reprise his role as the head of the Shelby family, Tommy.
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Interviewed on the red carpet at the premiere of his latest BBC project This Town, the 64-year-old said: “He definitely is returning for it. We’re shooting it in September just down the road in Digbeth.”
A good chunk of the show was famously filmed right here in Greater Manchester at the likes of the Stockport Plaza, along the Castlefield canals and inside Rochdale Town Hall, so we’re still hoping we might get a glimpse of the Peaky Blinders crews popping back up around here at some point too.
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Knight has previously said that the plot of the film carries on the Shelby family’s story as the timeline approaches the Second World War and teased to Esquire, “I know what two stories it’s going to tell”, but revealed little else as to how they will unfold and who exactly they involve.
While there’d been plenty of debate amongst the fan base as to whether a return for the film was likely given the somewhat open-ended finale (we’re staying nothing more), he did admit in an interview with Rolling Stone last year: “If there’s more story there, I’d love to do it but it has to be right.
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“Steve Knight wrote 36 hours of television, and we left on such a high”, he continued; “I’m really proud of that last series. So, it would have to feel legitimate and justified to do more.” As it turns out, there was plenty more to say and more story to tell — at least enough for a film, anyway.
There is still no wider indication as to when we can expect the cinematic release to arrive, you can already bank on being one of the biggest releases here in Britain and the US, where the show has also grown a massive audience. Hopefully, it’s sooner rather than later.
Featured Images — BBC/Taylor Rooke (via Wikimedia Commons)
TV & Showbiz
Channel 4 to air exclusive new documentary about the disappearance and death of Lancashire teen Jay Slater
Emily Sergeant
An exclusive new documentary taking an inside look at the the disappearance of Jay Slater is coming to Channel 4.
On the morning of 17 June 2024, 19-year-old Jay Slater – an apprentice bricklayer from the Lancashire town of Oswaldtwistle – disappeared on the island of Tenerife in Spain, after attempting to walk 14 hours back to his accommodation when there was no local taxi service available and no bus due for 90 minutes.
From then commenced one of the biggest missing persons cases in recent British history.
As the world’s media were following the story minute by minute last summer, producers at Channel 4 were in the incredibly-unique position where they had access to the Coronial process in Lancashire, and this has led to the exclusive documentary title The Disappearance of Jay Slater.
From Jay’s post-mortem to Jay’s inquest, the team have been with the family every step of the way over the last year, as they try and understand exactly what happened to Jay outside of the public gaze
Jay was ultimately pronounced dead on 15 July 2024 after Spanish police reported the discovery of a body in the vicinity of the area of interest, but before this discovery and eventual announcement, the internet became awash with public discourse, conspiracy theories, and more.
The Disappearance of Jay Slater is described as being ‘the family’s story’.
Channel 4 will air an exclusive new documentary about the disappearance and death of Lancashire teen Jay Slater / Credit: GoFundMe
The documentary is set to follow them as they search for answers about what happened to Jay, witnessing the conspiracy theories raging online and the subsequent horrific abuse they received as a family – which is an hourly onslaught that continues to this day.
These cameras were the only media in the world granted full access to film both Jay’s post-mortem and inside the church at his funeral.
But the broadcaster claims this documentary is not only the story of Jay’s tragedy, it’s also the story of ‘the new world we live in’ where so-called true crime armchair detectives run wild.
“The story of Jay Slater captured the nation last summer with a fervour and intensity fuelled by armchair detectives and internet culture,” commented Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor, Rita Daniels, ahead of the documentary airing.
“We are so glad to be working on a sensitively handled exploration of the family’s experience, and understanding the impact of being in the middle of a social media storm, amplified by grief.
“The film holds a light up to our current society and is exactly the story that is a necessity for Channel 4 to tell.”
Executive Producer Anna Hall added: “It is appalling what has happened to Jay’s family, and we hope this film will help to bring awareness of the real life consequences of online speculation. It is an unmonitored world where fake news runs rife, and this film shows the devastating impact this has had on one grieving family.”
The Disappearance of Jay Slater is expected to air on Channel 4 later this year, but no official dates have been confirmed as of yet, so keep your eyes peeled.
Featured Image – GoFundMe
TV & Showbiz
TikTok star turned pop star Addison Rae announces gig in Manchester
Thomas Melia
Viral TikTok star and now recording artist, Addison Rae, has announced her first-everheadline European tour, where she’ll be paying Manchester a visit, and tickets go on sale this week.
After launching into the music scene back in 2021 with pure pop single, ‘Obsessed’, Addison made her pop star intentions very clear.
Since then, Addison has gone on to work with high-profile artists such as Charli XCX, who appears as a feature on track ‘2 Die 4’ taken from her first EP, ‘AR’.
Addison also contributed to the inescapable phenomenon of last year that was ‘Brat Summer’, appearing on the aforementioned A-list artist’s Brat remix album, on a reworking of the hit ‘Von Dutch’.
With more than 88.5 million followers on TikTok alone and north of 35 million on Instagram, it goes without saying that her legions of ‘Sunraes’ (yes, a real term used by some in the community) will be lining up to get tickets to her UK tour dates.
Now the singer is ready to take the world by storm, confirming a US and European tour following the release of her debut album, simply titled Addison.
This LP, which features standouts like smash single ‘Diet Pepsi’, ‘Aquamarine’ and ‘Fame Is A Gun’, has been met with rave reviews from fans and critics alike.
The fledgling 24-year-old American-born pop star is a big fan of the UK, so much so that one of the singles from this very debut album, ‘Headphones On’, includes a music video dedicated to frozen food retailer Iceland.
See for yourself…
Addison Rae is set to bring ‘The Addison Tour’ – her first on the continent and here in Britain and Ireland – to Manchester Academy on 30 August, with general admission going on sale this Friday, 20 June.
So, if you’re a fan, get ready to grab yours HERE.
Danny Jones -
22nd March 2024 
