The final chapter for Tommy Shelby has arrived, and it brings both an ending and a clear new beginning. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man arrived on Netflix on March 20, 2026, closing out Cillian Murphy’s journey as the iconic Birmingham gangster after more than a decade of storytelling. But while Tommy’s story ends, the Shelby family legacy continues through his son, Duke, played by Barry Keoghan. The movie’s ending makes it clear where the franchise is headed next, setting the stage for a new era of the Peaky Blinders.
How the Movie Closes Tommy Shelby’s Story
Set during World War II in 1940, the film finds Tommy living in isolation, removed from the criminal empire he built. He is pulled back to Birmingham after his sister Ada is killed and his son Duke becomes entangled with a Nazi-backed counterfeit operation run by John Beckett (Tim Roth). The climax brings Tommy and Duke into a violent confrontation that decides the fate of the Shelby family.
In the final moments, Tommy is gravely wounded during the takedown of Beckett’s operation. Knowing his time is up, he asks Duke to finish what the bullet started. After a tense, emotional hesitation, Duke grants his father’s wish. Tommy’s final words are “In the bleak midwinter,” a line that ties back to his experiences in the tunnels of World War I and the brotherhood that shaped him.
The film closes with Tommy’s funeral. His body is placed in a caravan and set on fire, with the remaining counterfeit money burning alongside him. A voiceover reads from his memoir, The Immortal Man, with his final written words: “We are reunited now in whichever place will have us… I am free.”
Duke Shelby Takes Control of the Family
With Tommy gone, the role of leader falls to Duke. The movie shows Duke moving from an angry, insecure young man to someone who understands the weight of his father’s legacy. After Tommy’s death, Duke burns the caravan carrying his father’s body and steps into his position as the new “Rom Baro” – the leader of the Peaky Blinders.
Creator Steven Knight explained the thinking behind Tommy’s death at the hands of his son. “It’s about succession and legacy,” Knight told Variety. “Tommy Shelby has always had a very curious relationship with life and death. And the fact that he asked Duke to use the bullet with the name on makes it part of the tradition of the succession to power for his son.”
The casting of Barry Keoghan as Duke brought a new energy to the character. Knight addressed the decision to recast the role, originally played by Conrad Khan in the TV series. “The time jump dictated who we were looking for,” Knight said. “It could only have been him because every box is ticked, plus new boxes that he creates are ticked. To see Barry and Cillian either side of a bar drinking whiskey and looking at each other and not even saying anything is just magnificent.”
What the Sequel Series Will Bring
A sequel series has already been confirmed, with two seasons ordered by the BBC and Netflix. The new seasons will move the timeline forward to 1953, roughly a decade after the events of the film. The official description sets the scene: “After being heavily bombed in WWII, Birmingham is building a better future out of concrete and steel. In a new era of Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders, the race to own Birmingham’s massive reconstruction project becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions. This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and danger: with the Shelby family right at its blood-soaked heart.”
Knight has confirmed that Duke will be central to this next chapter. “The new generation of Shelbys have taken the wheel,” Knight said. “It will be a hell of a ride.”
Which Characters Could Return Alongside Duke
With the sequel series moving into the 1950s, several characters from the film could make their return.
Kaulo Chiriklo, played by Rebecca Ferguson, serves as a spiritual guide to the family in the movie and is described as a successor to Polly Gray. When asked about returning, Ferguson gave a careful response. “I never say no,” she told Radio Times. But she added, “I think that Kaulo was so essential for this film, but I don’t always feel that a character needs to have a continuation; we can be satisfied with not being satisfied.”
Hayden Stagg, played by Stephen Graham, survived the events of the film and has been mentioned by Knight as someone he wants to keep in the franchise. Graham could serve as an advisor to Duke in the new series.
Charles Shelby, Tommy’s son with Grace, is mentioned as being in Africa during the war and appears at Tommy’s funeral in a non-speaking role. With Duke now leading the family, Charles could return to Birmingham and create tension between the two brothers, mirroring the sibling rivalries that drove much of the original series.
Finn Shelby, who was exiled from the family by Duke in the season 6 finale, was not seen in the film. His absence leaves open the possibility of a return seeking revenge against his nephew.
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Release Information for Global Audiences
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is now streaming on Netflix worldwide. Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India can watch the film on the platform. The movie also had a limited theatrical release in select cinemas starting March 6, 2026, before its streaming debut.
The sequel series does not yet have a confirmed release date, but production is expected to move forward following the film’s release. The two seasons are each set to consist of six hour-long episodes.
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