The new Peaky Blinders movie, titled The Immortal Man, is almost here, and fans are excited to see Cillian Murphy return as Tommy Shelby. But one of the biggest talking points has been the addition of Barry Keoghan to the cast, playing Tommy’s son, Duke Shelby. Many wondered how the Oscar-nominated star of Saltburn landed such a key role in the beloved franchise. The answer, as it turns out, is wonderfully simple and happened because of a text message sent on Father’s Day.
Cillian Murphy recently sat down for an interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers and shared the charming story of how he asked Barry Keoghan to join the Peaky Blinders film. It wasn’t through a formal audition, a big meeting with producers, or a long email. It was a casual text exchange between two friends who had kept in touch over the years.
A Text on the Right Day
Murphy explained that he and Keoghan first met on the set of Christopher Nolan’s 2017 war film, Dunkirk. At the time, Murphy called Keoghan, who was just starting to make a name for himself, an “extraordinary talent,” and they became good friends.
Fast forward to last year. On Father’s Day, Barry Keoghan did what many people do: he sent a friendly text message to someone he considers a mentor and friend. He simply wanted to wish Cillian Murphy a happy Father’s Day.
During the Late Night interview, Murphy recalled the moment with a laugh. “He texted me, very kindly,” the Oppenheimer Oscar winner said. Murphy admitted that he had actually forgotten it was Father’s Day because his own sons hadn’t reminded him. So, when he got the kind message from Keoghan, he saw it as the perfect opening.
“I said, ‘I’ll just say it to him now,’” Murphy continued. Without hesitation, he texted Keoghan back with a direct question. “I texted him back and said, ‘Do you want to play my son in Peaky Blinders?’”
The response was almost instant. Murphy described waiting and seeing the typing indicator pop up on his phone. “You know when you can see people are typing?” he asked the audience. “And then he said, ‘Yeah.’ He was into it.” The deal was essentially done with that one-word reply.
Seth Meyers, the host, joked that Murphy’s own real-life sons, Malachy and Aran, had missed a huge opportunity. “Have you since told your sons that if they said ‘Happy Father’s Day’ to you, they would have been in Peaky Blinders? It went to the first person who said something to their dad,” Meyers quipped, to which Murphy jokingly agreed.
What Barry Keoghan Says About Getting the Role
Barry Keoghan has also spoken about this funny chain of events. In a recent interview on Ireland’s The Pat Kenny Show, he confirmed the story and shared his excitement. “I texted Cillian on Father’s Day to wish him a happy Father’s Day,” Keoghan said. “He got back to me and asked me if I wanted to play his son in the Peaky Blinders movie. It was a no brainer. He’s Cillian Murphy, I’d work with Cillian Murphy on anything.”
For Keoghan, saying yes was the easiest decision in the world. The two Irish actors share a strong bond, and the chance to work together again, this time as father and son in one of the most popular shows on television, was an opportunity he could not pass up. He takes over the role of Duke Shelby, which was originally played by Conrad Khan in the final season of the TV series.
What is Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man About?
This new chapter, titled Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, is a film that continues the story of Tommy Shelby. It is not a new TV season but a full-length movie directed by Tom Harper, who directed episodes of the very first season. The story is set during World War II, in 1940. Tommy Shelby is living in self-imposed exile, far from Birmingham, trying to escape his past.
But as the trailers show, the past has a way of catching up. His estranged son, Duke Shelby (played by Keoghan), has taken over the family business in Birmingham. According to the film’s synopsis, Duke gets caught up in a dangerous Nazi plot. This forces Tommy to return to the bombed-out streets of his hometown to save his son and his family.
The cast is stacked with talent. Alongside Murphy and Keoghan, the film stars Rebecca Ferguson (playing twins Kaulo and Zelda), Tim Roth, and returning series favorites like Stephen Graham and Sophie Rundle. The first reactions and the 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes suggest that the film delivers the intense drama and stylish action that fans have come to expect.
When and Where to Watch the New Peaky Blinders Movie
The wait for the Peaky Blinders film is finally over for some, and almost over for the rest of the world. The movie had its world premiere in London last week, followed by a star-studded New York premiere on March 10, where Murphy, Keoghan, and Ferguson walked the red carpet together .
Here are the key dates you need to know:
- In Theaters: Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man was released in a limited number of select cinemas on March 6, 2026. If you want to see it on the big screen, you should check your local listings to see if it’s playing near you.
- On Netflix: For everyone watching at home, the movie will begin streaming globally on March 20, 2026. This means viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and everywhere else will be able to watch it on Netflix starting on that day .
This release strategy allows die-hard fans to experience the gritty world of the Shelbys in theaters first, before it becomes available for the massive global audience on Netflix.
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A New Chapter for the Shelby Family
The story of the Peaky Blinders is not ending with this movie. Creator Steven Knight has already confirmed that a spin-off TV series is in the works, which will follow the new generation of the Shelby family after the war. But for now, all attention is on The Immortal Man.
Cillian Murphy has played Tommy Shelby for over 13 years, and he has grown to become one of the most iconic characters on television. Getting Barry Keoghan to join him for this movie chapter was a moment of perfect timing, all thanks to a simple “Happy Father’s Day” text. It is a reminder that sometimes the biggest opportunities come from the smallest, most human moments.
As the film prepares to land on Netflix, fans are eager to see the dynamic between Murphy’s weary, haunted Tommy Shelby and Keoghan’s volatile, angry Duke Shelby. The father-son conflict is set to be the emotional core of the film, and knowing that the two actors are close friends in real life makes their on-screen tension even more interesting to watch.
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