The wait is finally over for Peaky Blinders fans. The highly anticipated film, The Immortal Man, has arrived, bringing the saga of Tommy Shelby to a close. The movie picks up years after the TV series ended, dropping the Shelby family right into the middle of World War II. With Cillian Murphy back as the chain-smoking gangster, the film delivers a story full of Nazi plots, family betrayal, and a final act that leaves the door open for the future. If you have seen the movie or are planning to, here is a breakdown of the explosive ending and what it means for the Peaky Blinders franchise.
The story begins in Birmingham, 1940. The city is being torn apart by the German Blitz. Tommy Shelby is no longer the king of the underworld. Instead, he is living as a broken and withdrawn man in a decaying mansion in the hills, haunted by the ghosts of his past, especially his daughter Ruby. He spends his days writing and isolating himself with only his cousin, Johnny Dogs, for company.
Meanwhile, back in the bombed-out streets of Birmingham, Tommy’s illegitimate son, Duke Shelby (Barry Keoghan) , is running the Peaky Blinders gang. Unlike his father, Duke is aggressive, arrogant, and insecure about his place in the world. He gets tangled up with a Nazi operative named John Beckett (Tim Roth) , who is running a real-life German plot called Operation Bernhard. The plan is to flood the British economy with millions of forged banknotes to destabilize the country.
The Call to Return
Tommy’s sister, Ada Shelby (Sophie Rundle) , and a mysterious Romani woman named Kaulo (Rebecca Ferguson) , who claims to be connected to Duke’s mother, urge Tommy to return to Birmingham. They warn him that Duke is leading the family down a path of destruction and treason by working with Beckett. Kaulo tells Tommy that he must save his son and his legacy.
Initially, Tommy refuses. But when he learns that his son is in danger of becoming a traitor, he has no choice. As Cillian Murphy explained, Tommy is “as broken as he has been” at the start of the film, living in a self-created purgatory. However, the pull of family drags him back into the war.
The Explosive Climax
As Tommy re-enters the game, he discovers the full scale of Operation Bernhard. Beckett has manipulated Duke by preying on his need for a father figure, telling him, “If you were my son, I would cherish you.” This manipulation pushes Duke further into the Nazi plot.
The film builds to a violent and intense confrontation. Tommy, using all his old cunning, sets a trap for Beckett and his operation. In a scene that mirrors the Dark Knight Rises, Tommy suits up—literally putting his Peaky Blinders cap back on—to wage his final war. The climax involves a shootout at a factory, with the Birmingham blitz raging in the background.
Without giving away every beat, the ending sees Tommy facing down Beckett. However, the most crucial part of the climax involves Duke. Tommy realizes that to save his son, he cannot just kill the bad guys; he has to show Duke what it truly means to be a Shelby. In a brutal moment, Tommy physically confronts Duke, beating him down to teach him a lesson about power and loyalty.
Does Tommy Shelby Die?
No, Tommy Shelby does not die in The Immortal Man. Despite the film being marketed as his final chapter, he survives the war. However, the ending is not exactly happy. After defeating Beckett and dismantling the Nazi threat in Birmingham, Tommy makes a decision.
He realizes that his time as the active leader of the Peaky Blinders is over. The world has changed. The war is modernizing everything, and the old ways of the gang are fading. Instead of dying, Tommy chooses to walk away—but not in the way fans might expect.
Cillian Murphy has stated that this film serves as a “proper bookend” to the 36 hours of television. In the final moments, we see Tommy handing over the reins of the family legacy. He acknowledges Duke as his true successor. While Tommy survived physically, the man we knew—the ambitious, power-hungry leader—dies so that a father can live. He leaves the violent life behind, finally finding a sliver of the peace he has been chasing since Season 1.
What Happens to Duke Shelby?
Duke Shelby, played by Barry Keoghan, survives the movie and is set up as the future of the franchise. After Tommy beats him and then saves him from Beckett, Duke finally understands his father’s philosophy. He stops being the insecure, angry young man and starts to show the cool-headed intelligence of a true Shelby leader.
The ending of The Immortal Man is designed to pass the torch. Tommy tells Duke that the family is now his to protect. This directly sets the stage for the previously announced two new seasons of the Peaky Blinders TV series, which will jump forward in time to the 1950s.
Steven Knight, the creator, confirmed that this film was meant to “round it off and prepare people for what comes next.” Therefore, Duke Shelby, under the guidance of Ada and the memory of Tommy, will likely be the central figure in the next chapter of the story, dealing with post-war Britain.
The Mystery of Arthur Shelby
Many fans will notice that Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson) is missing from the action. In the film, it is mentioned that Arthur is dead, reportedly by suicide. However, the movie hints that Tommy might feel complicit in his brother’s death, adding another layer of guilt to his character. This off-screen death was necessary as actor Paul Anderson was not involved in the film production due to his well-documented personal struggles.
Setting Up the Next Generation
The Immortal Man ends with a sense of finality for Tommy but a sense of beginning for the Shelbys. The final shots show Duke walking through the streets of Birmingham, now taking charge, while Tommy watches from the shadows before disappearing. The film confirms that the Nazi plot is stopped, but the war is not over. The city lies in ruins, but from those ruins, a new Peaky Blinders will rise.
Steven Knight fulfilled his original vision to end this part of the story with a film set in World War II. By the time the credits roll, the “Immortal Man”—Tommy Shelby—has ensured his bloodline survives, even if he steps out of the spotlight.
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Streaming and Release Info
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man had its glamorous premiere in Birmingham with the cast in attendance. It was released in select cinemas on March 6, 2026. For those waiting to watch it at home, the film will begin streaming exclusively on Netflix starting March 20, 2026. Viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India can all access it on the platform from that date.
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