The world of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is taking shape, and it comes with a major surprise. Fans saying goodbye to one of the series’ most hated enemies might actually find themselves rooting for a new kind of threat. With the movie’s first trailer now released and a March 2026 release date locked in, details about the plot and characters are finally here.
The biggest news is that Sam Claflin will not return as Oswald Mosley. The actor confirmed his exit in a recent interview with Metro, ending speculation that the fascist leader would appear in the film. This leaves a gap in the story, but creator Steven Knight seems to be filling it with something unexpected. New footage and casting reveals suggest the real danger might come from inside the Shelby family itself.
Sam Claflin confirms he is out of The Immortal Man
Sam Claflin played Oswald Mosley across seasons five and six. His character was based on the real-life British politician who founded the British Union of Fascists. Mosley was a smooth, dangerous enemy who manipulated Tommy Shelby and even plotted with his doctor to give him a fake illness. He was very much alive and still a threat when the series ended.
But Claflin recently told Metro that he will not be in the movie. “I don’t know that I should not say anything, and keep the speculation going…” he said. “But no, sadly, I’ll share – I’m not in the film, though, I’m so excited as a fan of the series” . He added that he has heard the film is set later in time, and noted that Oswald Mosley “kind of started losing light and his following during the war” .
This makes sense historically. When World War II began in 1939, the British government arrested Mosley and imprisoned him under Defence Regulation 18B. He spent most of the war behind bars and lost all his political power. By 1940, when the movie takes place, he was no longer a player on the streets or in politics .
A new kind of enemy emerges in the trailer
With Mosley gone, the film needed a fresh antagonist. The official trailer for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, released in February 2026, introduces viewers to that new threat. His name is Beckett, played by veteran actor Tim Roth .
Beckett is described as a British fascist sympathiser. In the trailer, he is seen meeting with Duke Shelby, Tommy’s son, in secret. He asks Duke a shocking question. “I need to know that you are willing to take part in an act of treason that will decide this war for Germany,” Beckett says .
This is a huge moment. The enemy is no longer just a rival gangster or a political extremist. The villain in this story is offering Duke a chance to betray his country and help the Nazis win the war. It raises the stakes far beyond anything the series has done before.
Why fans might actually support this villain
Here is where the idea of rooting for the antagonist comes in. Tim Roth’s character, Beckett, is clearly evil. He is a fascist and a traitor. But the person he is talking to—Duke Shelby—might not be a hero either.
The trailer shows Duke, played by Barry Keoghan, looking cold and dangerous. He is now running the Peaky Blinders. Rebecca Ferguson’s character, Kaulo, tells Tommy that Duke is “running the Peaky Blinders like it’s 1919 all over again” . This suggests he is violent, reckless, and possibly out of control.
When Beckett asks Duke to commit treason, Duke gives an answer that sends chills. He says the world does not care about him, so he does not care about the world either . This makes him sound like he might actually say yes.
If Duke agrees to work with Beckett and help the Nazis, then Beckett becomes the man trying to pull Tommy’s son back to the dark side. But he is also the man offering Duke power. In a strange way, viewers might understand why Duke is tempted. He feels abandoned by his father. He feels the world owes him something. Beckett is the one giving him a choice, even if it is the wrong one.
The real conflict is father versus son
The deeper story here is not about good guys and bad guys. It is about family. The official press notes for the film describe Tommy as a man “driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet” . That reckoning is his son.
Cillian Murphy spoke about Tommy’s state of mind. “When we meet him, he’s as broken as he has been,” Murphy said in a statement. “He’s just medicating and living in this purgatory that he’s created for himself” . Tommy has withdrawn from the world. He has left his son alone.
Now he has to go back. He has to stop Duke from making a terrible mistake. Steven Knight, the creator, told Entertainment Weekly that the emotional core of the film is the relationship between Tommy and Duke. “The father and son were the main structures,” he said .
So if Duke becomes the villain, or at least a villain, it is because his father was not there. That is a conflict audiences can understand. It does not mean they support fascism or treason. But they might understand the pain that leads a young man down that path.
What about other returning characters?
The movie is bringing back many familiar faces. Sophie Rundle returns as Ada Shelby. Stephen Graham is back as Hayden Stagg. Ned Dennehy will play Charlie Strong, Ian Peck is Curly, and Packy Lee is Johnny Dogs .
Tom Hardy has spoken about wanting to return as Alfie Solomons, but there is no official confirmation yet that he is in the film . His character is a fan favorite, so his absence would be noticeable.
New cast members include Barry Keoghan as Duke Shelby and Rebecca Ferguson as a mysterious new character named Kaulo. Her role seems to be part spiritual guide, part truth-teller. She reminds Tommy of all the people who died because of him and tells him he abandoned his kingdom .
When and where to watch The Immortal Man
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man will release in select theatres on March 6, 2026. For those who prefer streaming, it will be available on Netflix starting March 20, 2026 .
The release schedule covers major regions worldwide. Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India will all be able to stream it on Netflix on the same date. The theatrical release on March 6 is limited to certain cinemas, so fans should check local listings if they want to see it on the big screen first.
The music sets the tone
The series was always known for its incredible soundtrack, and the movie continues that tradition. The trailer features a haunting new song from Grian Chatten, the lead singer of Fontaines D.C. . The lyrics ask, “How does it feel to be a savage and a beast?” which fits Tommy’s journey perfectly.
Amy Taylor from Amyl and the Sniffers also has a new track in the film. Nick Cave, who provided the iconic theme song “Red Right Hand” for the series, will have a new version of that song in the movie as well . The music will help create the same moody, dangerous atmosphere that made the show so special.
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What this means for the story
Removing Oswald Mosley and introducing Beckett changes the focus of the story. Instead of fighting a political enemy, Tommy is fighting to save his son’s soul. The war is not just World War II. It is a war for the future of the Shelby family.
Steven Knight explained why he chose to set the film in 1940, with the war already happening. “That was my original idea when I first started writing episode 1 of series 1,” he said . He also revealed that the plan was always to end with a movie. The pandemic caused them to skip a seventh season and go straight to the film .
This means The Immortal Man is the real ending. It is the conclusion Steven Knight always imagined. And that ending apparently involves Tommy facing his biggest enemy yet: the possibility that his own blood might betray everything he built.
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As the countdown to March 20 continues, one thing is certain—returning to Small Heath has never felt this personal, and watching Tommy Shelby fight for his family one last time is exactly the send-off this legendary character deserves. For more breaking updates on Peaky Blinders and all your favorite shows, keep it locked right here at VvipTimes.
