The Shelby family has finally returned to the big screen with the limited theatrical release of 'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.' While a few lucky fans have already seen it, the rest of the world is counting down the days until it hits Netflix on 20th March. Cillian Murphy is back in his signature flat cap as Tommy Shelby, joined by a mix of returning favourites like Sophie Rundle and Stephen Graham, alongside heavy-hitting newcomers like Barry Keoghan and Rebecca Ferguson.
The story picks up in 1940 Birmingham during the height of World War II. Tommy Shelby is forced out of his own self-imposed exile to face a reckoning that could destroy everything. With the future of both his family and England on the line, the official synopsis suggests that Tommy has to decide whether to face his demons or simply burn his entire legacy to the ground by order of the Peaky Blinders.
Image Courtesy: NME
Paul Anderson on 'Peaky Blinders' Film
Despite the star-studded cast, there is one massive hole in the lineup: Paul Anderson's Arthur Shelby is nowhere to be found. In a recent interview, Anderson addressed his absence with a bit of a shrug, essentially saying that there isn't much he can do about it and that things simply are the way they are. He mentioned that he decided to just let the production team do their thing and thinks the result is great. He also joked that, despite his character not being very kind to people throughout the series, fans still loved him.
Even though Arthur isn't physically in the movie, he is still mentioned. Paul Anderson finds the way the film references his character to be incredibly powerful and noted that it is the kind of storytelling you rarely get to see on television.
Image Courtesy: NME
So far, the gamble of moving from TV to film seems to be paying off. 'The Immortal Man' is currently boasting impressive scores on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and audiences alike giving it high marks that rival the original show. Early reviews have highlighted that Cillian Murphy is as charismatic as ever, delivering a performance that keeps viewers hooked until the very end.
While the plot might feel a bit predictable at times, critics agree it delivers exactly what fans want from a 'Peaky Blinders' finale.
