Major returning Peaky Blinders character confirmed for 1950s sequel series

For fans of Peaky Blinders worried that The Immortal Man will be the final time we get the story of the Shelbys in Birmingham – worry no more.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man has now released on Netflix following a limited cinema run in which people in multiple cities across the UK were unable to watch it.

The Immortal Man picks up a few years after the original TV show ended, starting in 1940 at the advent of World War Two.

The sequel TV series however has been confirmed by creator Steven Knight to take place in 1953, marking a time jump of more than a decade.

Though the sequel series would seem a great place to keep tellings stories with beloved characters from the show, The Immortal Man is a pretty lethal film, killing off some of the beloved characters that make up Peaky Blinders.

Spoilers lie ahead for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.

None of the original Shelby crew are going to be appearing in the follow up series because, after the film, none of them are left alive.

John, Aunt Polly, and Michael all died in the show, whilst Arthur, Ada, and Tommy all bit the bullet over the course of the Netflix film.

One character however is now guaranteed to be returning for the sequel series and taking on the legacy of the Shelbys.

Steven Knight has confirmed Duke is coming back, but Barry Keoghan is unlikely to reprise the role

Steven Knight spoke to Slashfilm about the movie and upcoming follow-up series, stating: “The son character [Duke] will feature in what goes forward. So, it's a continuation of the Shelby family story, really."

His confirmation seems to be very specifically worded, with Barry Keoghan incredibly unlikely to return to the role.

Duke is coming back, but Keoghan probably isn't (Netflix)

Excluding how busy Barry Keoghan is likely to be, with his upcoming role in the four Beatles movies as Ringo Starr, but has specifically stated he wouldn’t want to take on the role.

He told Variety at the New York premiere: “It’s a lot to follow Tommy Shelby. It’s a lot and I don’t even want to attempt that to try, but Duke is a different sort of [character].” If he does return though he will have to play a version of Duke 13 years older than he did in The Immortal Man, leaving the door open for the role to be recast again (Conrad Khan played Duke in season six).

What do we know about the upcoming follow up series?

Whilst there has been much speculation that the series could focus on Finn Shelby and Duke vying for control a decade one, particularly with Finn’s season six vow to get vengeance on Duke, this is the first confirmed character for the series.

(BBC)

A synopsis is the best information we have on the TV series thus-far, reading: “After being heavily bombed in World War II, 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.”

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is available to stream on Netflix now.