Cillian Murphy is set to reprise his iconic role as Tommy Shelby in the upcoming film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which takes place during World War II. The story explores an uneasy alliance between British gangsters and Nazi forces, but Murphy has cautioned audiences not to expect a heavy political lecture from the film. Instead, he emphasizes that the movie aims to provoke thought without pushing a specific agenda.
Balancing Entertainment and Thought-Provoking Themes
Returning alongside Murphy is series creator Steven Knight, who has written the screenplay, while Tom Harper directs the film. Murphy described the movie as primarily an entertaining action story with emotional depth, but one that also holds the potential to challenge viewers on a deeper level. By blending gripping storytelling with thematic weight, the film seeks to engage audiences on multiple fronts.
Drawing Parallels with ‘Oppenheimer’ and Political Contexts
Murphy compared Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man to his work in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, where he portrayed J. Robert Oppenheimer, the inventor of the atomic bomb. He explained that much like Oppenheimer, which functions both as a spectacle filled with intense scenes and a commentary on the dangers of nuclear conflict, the new Peaky Blinders film can be appreciated simply as thrilling entertainment or examined more closely for its provocative subtext.
Release Dates and Viewing Options
Fans can catch Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man in select theaters beginning March 6. The film will then be available for streaming on Netflix starting March 20, providing broad access after its limited cinema release.
Maintaining Cinematic Integrity Without Dogma
Murphy expressed discomfort with films that take a preachy or dogmatic tone. He told The Sunday Times,
“But then this film wears that lightly — it’s not ‘The Zone of Interest,’ let’s put it that way. And, look, the last thing I want to be involved in is preachy or dogmatic work because films should never tell you how to feel. They should just ask questions.”
This approach shows a clear intention to respect the audience’s ability to interpret the story on their own terms.
Murphy further emphasized the dual nature of successful mainstream movies.
“This should be an entertaining action film with a big heart,”
he said.
“But if you want to look closer it could be provocative too. The best mainstream entertainment operates simultaneously on those levels.”
Regarding the relevance of political themes in his projects, Murphy remarked on Oppenheimer by saying,
“If you want to talk about where we are in the world and look at how close we are to nuclear f–king Armageddon, you can think about ‘Oppenheimer’ in that way. But if you just want to look at a great film with big explosions then that’s cool as well.”
With its release, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man aims to expand on the legacy of the beloved television series while navigating a complex historical backdrop. Audiences can expect a film that respects their intelligence, delivers thrilling action, and subtly challenges perceptions without forcing specific viewpoints.
