The wait is almost over. After years of speculation, a feature film, and a whole lot of flat-cap nostalgia, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is finally here. The film dropped in select theaters on March 6 and is gearing up for its global Netflix premiere on March 20 . For fans, it’s the return of Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby we’ve been craving. But it also introduces a major new player to the Shelby dynasty: Barry Keoghan as Duke Shelby, Tommy’s illegitimate son.
While the buzz around Keoghan’s performance has been electric, a recent revelation has the fandom buzzing for a different reason. In interviews surrounding the film’s release, the Saltburn star has made it clear that his time in the Peaky Blinders universe was a one-off. So, for those hoping to see Duke Shelby lead a new generation of the gang in the already-announced 1953-set spin-off series, we have some difficult news to deliver. By order of the Peaky Blinders, Keoghan is moving on.
Who Is Duke Shelby and Why Does He Matter?
Before we get into Keoghan’s future, let’s talk about his explosive entrance into the Blinders’ lore. When Barry Keoghan was first cast, speculation ran wild. Was he a rival? A spy? A new villain? We finally got our answer when the trailer dropped, confirming he’d be playing Duke Shelby, a character briefly introduced in season six .
In The Immortal Man, which is set in Birmingham during the chaos of 1940, Tommy returns from self-imposed exile to find his “gypsy son” running the Peaky Blinders like it’s 1919 all over again . Keoghan’s Duke isn’t just filling in; he’s making dangerous power plays. The trailer even teases a shocking moment where Duke is asked if he’s willing to commit treason to help Germany win the war . Heavy stuff.
Keoghan recently opened up about tapping into his own life experiences to portray the “absent” relationship between Duke and his legendary father. Drawing on his own complicated history with his dad, Keoghan explained that Duke’s violence and chaos are just reactions—”cries for help” from a son desperate for his father’s approval . He described it as an “animalistic thing of the cub looking for its dad,” a performance he grounded in vulnerability and raw humanity . It’s this depth that makes Duke more than just a carbon copy of young Tommy, and why fans were instantly hoping to see more of him.
Why Barry Keoghan Won’t Be Back
This is where things get bittersweet for the Peaky fandom. Despite delivering one of the most anticipated performances in the film, Barry Keoghan has no plans to continue with the franchise. Speaking about his role, the actor conveyed a sense of completion rather than a desire for a long-term arc.
For Keoghan, joining the Peaky Blinders universe was about the story, the relationship, and working with his friend Cillian Murphy again. He first worked with Murphy on Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk in 2017, and the connection stuck. In fact, the role came about in the most casual, heartwarming way possible: a Father’s Day text .
Cillian Murphy recently recounted the story on Late Night with Seth Meyers. After receiving a kind Father’s Day message from Keoghan, Murphy saw his chance. “I said, ‘I’ll just say it to him now,’” Murphy recalled. “So I texted him back and said, ‘Do you want to play my son in Peaky Blinders?’” . Keoghan’s response was an immediate and enthusiastic “Yeah” .
It was the perfect convergence of friendship and art. But for Keoghan, it was a singular moment in time. He has stated that he “got what he needed” from the experience, suggesting that Duke’s arc—finding his father, confronting that legacy, and stepping into his own power—felt complete within the confines of this film.
The Future of the Peaky Blinders Franchise
So, if Duke Shelby isn’t coming back, what does the future hold? Creator Steven Knight isn’t done with the world of Peaky Blinders. Far from it. He has confirmed that a new television series is in development, set in 1953, which will follow the “next generation” of the Shelby family .
While Cillian Murphy has been adamant that The Immortal Man serves as a “proper bookend” to Tommy Shelby’s 36 hours of television, he is attached as a producer on the new project, ensuring the legacy continues even if he doesn’t appear on screen . This leaves a massive power vacuum at the heart of the show.
Many fans assumed that Keoghan’s Duke, having been established as the new leader of the gang in the film, would be the natural linchpin of this new series. His character represents the bridge between the old world of Tommy Shelby and the post-war future. But with Keoghan stepping away, the question becomes: who will carry the torch?
It’s possible that other young characters introduced in The Immortal Man, such as Jay Lycurgo’s unnamed role, could be elevated . Or perhaps the new series will focus on a different branch of the Shelby family entirely. One thing is certain: while Tommy’s story may have reached its final chapter, the history of the Peaky Blinders is far from over.
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A Performance Worth Savoring
For fans, the news of Keoghan’s departure is a classic “blinder.” We get a phenomenal, intense performance in a major film, but we don’t get to live with it for years to come. It forces us to appreciate The Immortal Man as a standalone event rather than just a pilot for the Keoghan show.
Given the actor’s meteoric rise—from The Banshees of Inisherin to Saltburn and The Batman—it’s no surprise he’s keeping his dance card full. He’s an actor who thrives on variety and transformation, and returning to the same role for a multi-year series might not fit his artistic rhythm.
For now, we have Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man to look forward to. We get to see Cillian Murphy don the cap one last time, and we get to witness Barry Keoghan hold his own as the son of Tommy Shelby, bringing a “troubled” and “menacing” energy that honors the show’s legacy while pushing it into dangerous new territory .
Mark your calendars for March 20, when the film hits Netflix. It’s going to be a hell of a ride—even if it’s the only ride we get with this particular Shelby.
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