Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Premieres in Birmingham
Cillian Murphy Joins the Cast at the Film Premiere
By Chloe Hughes, Vanessa Pearce, and Richard Price
West Midlands
Updated 1 Hour Ago
Cillian Murphy was among a star-studded lineup in Birmingham as the red carpet was rolled out for the premiere of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. The film marks a dramatic shift for the series, transitioning from television to the big screen.
Hundreds of fans, many dressed in flat caps and tweed, turned out to catch a glimpse of the cast, which includes Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth, as they arrived at the city's Symphony Hall. The premiere celebrated the series' transition to the big screen, with the film set in Birmingham during World War II.
The film continues the story of Steven Knight's acclaimed, Birmingham-set TV series, with Oscar winner Murphy reprising his role as gang leader Tommy Shelby, who returns to the city during the war. Knight emphasized the significance of hosting the premiere in Birmingham, stating that the city is an integral part of the story.
"It's important for the fans, it's important for [Steven Knight], and I think it was very important," Murphy said. "Steve has written it from stories he was told by his parents growing up here... it's huge, you can't separate the two."
Knight highlighted the fans' role in the show's success, noting that their enthusiasm and word-of-mouth promotion were crucial. "The fans have been like the energy for the show from the very beginning," he said. "It was never really pushed or promoted, or advertised much. It was the fans who discovered it and then talked to each other about it."
The film is released in cinemas for two weeks and will then stream on Netflix from March 20th. Knight expressed the desire for viewers to experience the film together, emphasizing the communal aspect of cinema.
Local celebrities who attended the event included Duran Duran's John Taylor, Birmingham City and Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Carney, and Aston Villa players Jadon Sancho, Ezri Konsa, Tammy Abraham, and Morgan Rogers. However, the focus remained on the fans, with several attendees dressed in Peaky Blinders-themed attire.
Claire White and Albert Laszlo traveled from Derby to meet the stars, hoping to open a themed cafe and cake bar. Clair McManus, Susan McManus, Lisa Turner, and Elisha Guiney also dressed up for the occasion, enjoying the premiere as a memorable night out.
Arthur Cocker, a 55-year-old fan from Birmingham, highlighted the series' impact on the city's reputation. "The new series is getting filmed here now, and from this evening, people who pass us by are going to want to watch Peaky Blinders," he said. "Everybody's making an effort to get dressed for the occasion. People just want to be part of the culture of the Peaky Blinders and the history."
To celebrate the premiere, Transport for West Midlands unveiled a specially designed Metro tram with the message 'Home of the Peaky Blinders' emblazoned on the side. The tram was shown off at the Central Library tram stop in Centenary Square, and a mechanical bull named Ozzy, named after the late rock star Ozzy Osbourne, was given a Peaky Blinders makeover with a massive flat cap nestled between his horns.
The film is set in Birmingham in 1940, amidst the destruction caused by World War II, with an older and greying Shelby returning from self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. New additions to the cast include Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, and Barry Keoghan, who plays Shelby's son. Ferguson expressed discomfort with accents, stating that Brummie was never a conversation.
The cast also includes Stephen Graham, Sophie Rundle, Ned Dennehy, Packy Lee, Ian Peck, and Jay Lycurgo. The film is written by Knight and directed by Tom Harper, and it will return to TV with a time jump, following the exploits of a new generation of the Shelby family after World War II.
Get in Touch
Share your thoughts and suggestions for stories we should cover in Birmingham and the Black Country.
