For a decade, the Shelby family’s story of crime, power, and redemption has captivated audiences. With a new movie, The Immortal Man, coming in 2026 and a sequel series already announced, the world of Peaky Blinders is expanding. If the intricate plot of backstabbings, business deals, and political schemes has gotten a little foggy, here is everything you need to remember.
The Story Begins: A Gang Rises in Birmingham
The saga began in 1919, following the First World War. Led by war veteran Thomas Shelby, the Peaky Blinders gang—named for the razor blades sewn into their caps—ran the streets of Birmingham. The first series kicked off when they stole a shipment of guns, drawing the attention of Winston Churchill, who sent Inspector Campbell to retrieve them.
Campbell placed an undercover agent, Grace Burgess, at The Garrison pub to get information on Tommy. While Grace and Tommy grew closer, Tommy expanded his power by fixing horse races, leading to a violent confrontation with rival Billy Kimber, whom Tommy killed. The season ended with Grace betraying Tommy for his safety, leading to a dramatic standoff where she shot Campbell.
“I’m thrilled to be announcing this new chapter in the Peaky Blinders story,” creator Steven Knight said about the new shows. “The new generation of Shelbys have taken the wheel and it will be a hell of a ride.”
Gaining Power and Facing New Enemies
The story jumped forward two years. The Garrison pub was bombed, and Tommy faced new threats from London gangster Darby Sabini. To protect his family, Tommy formed an alliance with Alfie Solomons, a powerful Jewish gang leader.
Meanwhile, Polly’s long-lost son, Michael, arrived in Birmingham and joined the family business. Grace, now married, reconnected with Tommy and became pregnant with his child. After carrying out a political assassination for Churchill, Tommy was betrayed and taken to be executed, but his life was spared when Polly killed Campbell. Tommy was informed that Churchill had more work for him.
A Costly New World and Political Ambition
By series three, set in 1924, Tommy had married Grace, but their happiness was short-lived. She was shot and killed during an attack ordered by the Italian Changretta family, leaving Tommy devastated.
Tommy was then forced to work with a mysterious Russian group to smuggle weapons, a deal that put his entire family in danger. After a successful heist of Russian jewels, Tommy shocked everyone by having his own family arrested to protect them from the vengeful Russians.
The fourth series opened with a devastating blow: John Shelby was murdered by the Italian mafia. Luca Changretta sought revenge for his family’s deaths. After faking Arthur’s death as a trap, the Shelbys turned the tables and killed Changretta. With his family secure, Tommy shifted his ambitions to politics, becoming the MP for Birmingham South.
The Final Betrayals and an Uncertain Future
Series five began in 1929 amid the Wall Street Crash. Michael, ignoring Tommy’s warnings, lost a large part of the family’s fortune. This created a major rift, leading to Michael and his wife, Gina, being banished from Birmingham.
As an MP, Tommy met the fascist politician Oswald Mosley and began working with intelligence services to undermine him. Tommy plotted to assassinate Moseley, but the plan was foiled when his youngest brother, Finn, carelessly revealed it. The series ended with Tommy isolated, believing he had lost his touch and his family was fracturing.
In the sixth and final season, Tommy struggled with his inner demons and the consequences of his ambition. He worked to secure his family’s legacy while facing threats from all sides, ultimately setting the stage for his story to continue beyond the television series.
The Immortal Man and a New Generation
The story of Tommy Shelby is not over. The Immortal Man movie is currently in post-production and is expected to be released in 2026. The film will see Cillian Murphy return as Tommy Shelby and will be set during World War II.
“It’s set in the second world war and it’s really good,” Steven Knight confirmed.
The movie also stars Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Stephen Graham, and Barry Keoghan. Following the film, a sequel series has been given a two-season order by Netflix and the BBC.
The new show will be set in 1953 Britain. After being heavily bombed in WWII, Birmingham is rebuilding, and the race to control the massive reconstruction project will be the new battlefield. The sequel will follow a new generation of the Shelby family. Cillian Murphy will serve as an executive producer on the project.
Also Read: Peaky Blinders Sequel Series Greenlit: New Generation of Shelbys to Continue the Story
