The Peaky Blinders movie has arrived, and it brings closure to Tommy Shelby’s journey. But for fans who followed the original series for six seasons, the film leaves many questions about where beloved characters ended up. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man hit Netflix on March 20, 2026, and while it delivers an ending for Cillian Murphy’s iconic gangster, it also reveals what happened to key characters from the show—with some results that fans find hard to accept.
The movie picks up in 1940 during World War II, six years after the series finale. Tommy Shelby has isolated himself in the countryside, haunted by his past and writing his memoirs. But when his illegitimate son Duke (now played by Barry Keoghan) gets tangled with a Nazi counterfeiting scheme, Tommy must return to Birmingham for one final mission.
Along the way, the film reveals the fates of several major characters from the original series. For many, these endings feel abrupt, unsatisfying, or disconnected from the arcs built over six seasons. Here are the six most significant character arcs that the spin-off failed to properly redeem.
Arthur Shelby’s Death Undermines His Six-Season Journey
The biggest shock in The Immortal Man comes early. We learn that Arthur Shelby, Tommy’s older brother played by Paul Anderson, is dead. The film initially suggests he took his own life. But midway through, the truth comes out: Tommy killed Arthur in a drunken fight after Arthur stole his car.
This revelation hits hard for longtime viewers. Arthur’s journey throughout the series was about survival against all odds. He struggled with addiction, violence, and trauma from the war, yet he always found his way back to his brother. The series finale showed Arthur alive, albeit damaged, after taking revenge for Polly’s death.
Creator Steven Knight admitted on The Immortal Man podcast that this twist wasn’t always planned. “Sometimes something occurs to you that explains what you’ve been writing,” Knight said. “I was writing this intense guilt. And then you think, ‘Well, that’s why he’s so guilty. Because it was him.’”
For fans, the explanation falls flat. Anderson did not return for the movie, reportedly due to personal issues and legal troubles, including a 2024 fine for crack cocaine possession. His absence left the writers needing to explain where Arthur went. But having Tommy kill his own brother—the one person who stood by him through everything—feels like a betrayal of the bond the show spent years building.
“It’s a miracle the troubled eldest Shelby survived this long, given his struggles with drink and a variety of mental health issues. That someone killed him isn’t all that shocking. But his death seems to have unmoored Tommy,” noted Den of Geek in their review.
Ada Shelby’s Murder Feels Like an Afterthought
Sophie Rundle returns as Ada Shelby, the only Shelby sister who always served as the family’s moral compass. In the film, Ada has become a member of Parliament, fulfilling the political path Tommy once walked. She tries to stop her nephew Duke from stealing weapons meant for the front lines and threatens to go to the police.
Her reward? The Nazi sympathizer John Beckett, played by Tim Roth, orders her murder. Duke doesn’t pull the trigger, but his information leads to Ada being gunned down in the street. Her death serves as the catalyst for Tommy to return and for Duke to reconsider his choices.
Many critics note this move “edges dangerously close to fridging”—killing off a female character solely to motivate the male protagonist. Ada was one of the strongest, most principled characters in the series. She survived everything: her communist lover Freddie’s death, family betrayals, and the constant violence surrounding the Shelbys. Having her killed off-screen for plot convenience feels disrespectful to her legacy.
Rundle spoke about Ada’s role in the film, saying, “I think Ada is searching for that flicker of him, if he’s still in there, and she’s really reaching for him. There’s moments where she nearly gets to him and then he kind of disappears again.” That search ends in tragedy, leaving Ada’s arc feeling incomplete.
Duke Shelby Gets Redemption But Lacks Depth
Barry Keoghan takes over the role of Duke Shelby, Tommy’s illegitimate son who was introduced in Season 6. In the series finale, Duke proved himself by killing informant Billy Grade and banishing Finn Shelby. He seemed poised to carry on the family legacy.
In the movie, Duke has become the leader of a new generation of Peaky Blinders. But he’s running things chaotically, stealing morphine from hospitals and weapons meant for soldiers. He agrees to work with Beckett and the Nazis out of anger toward his absent father.
Duke does get a redemption arc. After Ada’s death, he joins forces with Tommy to take down Beckett. In the end, when Tommy is mortally wounded, Duke grants his father’s wish for a quick death and inherits the title of Rom Baro (king of the gypsies).
The problem is that Duke’s turn feels rushed. In the TV series, he was introduced in the final episodes, and viewers never got enough time to understand him. The film tries to make him the future of the franchise, but Keoghan’s performance, while strong, can’t fill the gap left by six seasons of character development for the original cast.
Finn Shelby Is Completely Forgotten
Harry Kirton’s Finn Shelby was a presence throughout the series. He grew from a boy into a man who ultimately betrayed the family. In the Season 6 finale, Duke banished Finn for his role in Polly’s death, telling him he was kicked out “by order of the fucking Peaky Blinders.”
In The Immortal Man, Finn is nowhere to be seen. Kirton attended the film’s premiere, suggesting he wasn’t written out due to bad blood. But the movie offers no explanation of where Finn ended up. Did he seek revenge as he promised? Did he build a new life away from the family? Viewers get nothing.
Given that Finn’s banishment was a major moment in the series finale, leaving his story unresolved feels like a loose thread the movie simply ignored.
Lizzie Shelby and Charles Disappear Without Mention
Natasha O’Keeffe’s Lizzie Shelby had one of the most tragic arcs in the series. She loved Tommy despite his coldness, stood by him through Grace’s death, and bore his child. In the Season 6 finale, she finally left, taking their son Charles with her after discovering Tommy’s affair.
The movie mentions Charles once—noting he’s fighting on the front lines. But there’s no mention of Lizzie at all. O’Keeffe previously told Country & Town House that she was “packing up” Lizzie, calling it “sad” to end that stage of her life.
For fans who followed Lizzie’s journey from prostitute to Shelby wife, her absence is glaring. Her decision to leave Tommy was a powerful statement about self-worth. The movie could have shown her living a peaceful life away from the chaos, but instead, she simply doesn’t exist in this world anymore.
Alfie Solomons Is Nowhere to Be Found
Tom Hardy’s Alfie Solomons became a fan favorite for his chaotic energy and unpredictable loyalty. In the series finale, Alfie had relocated to Boston, establishing himself as a bootlegger after surviving Tommy’s attempt to kill him.
Hardy teased in June 2024 that “100% Alfie will definitely make an appearance” in the film. But when asked again in April 2025, he was more coy, saying “I can’t possibly say.” The answer, now that the movie is out, is no. Alfie does not appear in The Immortal Man.
Given that the film involves Nazis and counterfeit money—exactly the kind of scheme Alfie would love—his absence feels like a missed opportunity. Hardy’s busy schedule and the crowded cast likely played a role, but for fans hoping to see the Alfie-Tommy dynamic one more time, the movie disappoints.
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What the Spin-Off Series Might Do Next
Despite these unresolved arcs, the Peaky Blinders story isn’t over. Knight has confirmed a new TV series is coming, set in the 1950s during Birmingham’s post-war reconstruction. No casting has been announced, but Duke is the obvious candidate to lead, given his new role as Rom Baro. Whether Keoghan will return or the role will be recast remains unclear.
For now, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is streaming on Netflix worldwide. The film runs just under two hours and serves as a coda to the Shelby family’s story—though for fans of Arthur, Ada, and Alfie, it may feel more like a goodbye than a proper sendoff.
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