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| Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026) Movie Review and Ending Explained: What Happens to Tommy Shelby? (Image via: IMDb) |
Peaky Blinders The Immortal Man (2026) arrives as both a continuation and a closing reflection on one of television’s most recognisable crime sagas. Directed by Tom Harper and written by series creator Stephen Knight, the Netflix film shifts the story into the shadow of the Second World War while revisiting the emotional wreckage left behind by Tommy Shelby’s long journey through power, loss and violence.
Set in a war-torn Birmingham in 1940, the film follows Tommy Shelby, played once again with quiet intensity by Cillian Murphy, as he returns from self-imposed exile. The city he once ruled has changed, the world has moved into wartime chaos, and the Shelby legacy is now being carried by a new and far more unpredictable generation.
Despite its roots in the long-running series, the film largely works as a self-contained story. It revisits familiar characters while introducing new ones, particularly Barry Keoghan’s Duke Shelby, whose choices threaten both the family name and the country itself.
The story begins with Tommy Shelby living in isolation, far removed from the criminal empire he once commanded. He resides in a remote countryside estate, haunted by memories and grief, particularly over the loss of his young daughter and the many people who paid the price for his rise.
His quiet exile is disrupted when war arrives in Britain and an alarming plot begins to unfold. A dangerous scheme is underway involving John Beckett, portrayed by Tim Roth, a powerful figure connected to extremist political movements in Britain.
Beckett is working with a network aligned with Germany to destabilise Britain’s economy by distributing huge quantities of forged banknotes.
At the centre of this plan is Duke Shelby, Tommy’s estranged son. Duke has taken over control of the Peaky Blinders gang in Birmingham and is far more reckless than his father ever was.
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Where Tommy once calculated every move, Duke thrives on chaos, showing little concern for consequences.
Duke agrees to help Beckett circulate the counterfeit currency across Britain, believing the world has given him nothing and that loyalty means very little. His philosophy is simple: survival and power come first.
Back in Birmingham, Ada Thorne, Tommy’s sister played by Sophie Rundle, learns of the growing threat and realises that only Tommy has the influence and experience to stop it. She persuades him to return.
Reluctantly, Tommy re-enters the world he abandoned. Once again dressed in the familiar sharp suits and commanding presence that made him feared, he begins dismantling Beckett’s network while also trying to reach his son before Duke pushes the Shelby family beyond redemption.
The conflict builds across Birmingham’s criminal underworld and wartime resistance networks. Old allies return, including Johnny Dogs, Charlie Strong, and Curly, grounding the film in the world longtime viewers remember.
Meanwhile Duke’s rise continues. He proves ruthless, impulsive and difficult to control, forming alliances that place him deeper inside Beckett’s dangerous operation.
The tension throughout the film lies not only in stopping the economic sabotage plot but also in the emotional confrontation between father and son.
The final act of Peaky Blinders The Immortal Man centres on the collapse of Beckett’s plan and the future of the Shelby legacy.
Tommy eventually uncovers the full scale of the counterfeit currency scheme. Beckett intends to flood Britain with fake banknotes, triggering financial instability that could weaken the country during wartime. Duke’s gang has already begun distributing the money across several cities.
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Realising the damage that could follow, Tommy orchestrates a calculated counterattack. Using his remaining contacts and strategic mind, he disrupts Beckett’s network and tracks the operation back to its source.
The confrontation unfolds in Birmingham where Tommy faces Beckett directly. The conflict ends with Beckett’s plan collapsing before it can fully succeed, preventing the financial sabotage from reaching a critical point.
But the emotional centre of the ending lies with Duke.
Throughout the film Duke wrestles with anger toward his father and the burden of living in Tommy Shelby’s shadow. He believes Tommy abandoned him and left him to survive alone in a brutal world.
When father and son finally confront each other, Tommy does not try to dominate Duke the way he once ruled the Peaky Blinders. Instead he acknowledges the damage his life choices caused.
Tommy’s goal is no longer power. It is stopping Duke from repeating his mistakes.
Duke is shaken by the truth of the situation. The plot he joined was never about loyalty or rebellion. It would have destroyed Britain during wartime and permanently stained the Shelby name.
In the closing moments, Duke steps back from the alliance that nearly pushed him beyond redemption. Whether he truly changes remains ambiguous, but the choice suggests he may still have a future beyond crime.
Tommy, however, does not reclaim leadership of the Peaky Blinders.
Instead, the film closes with him returning to a quieter life. His war is no longer with rival gangs but with his own past.
The title The Immortal Man becomes symbolic. Tommy Shelby’s legacy — both good and bad — continues through the next generation, but the man himself appears ready to step away from the empire he built.
It is less a victory and more a moment of uneasy peace.
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Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby
Murphy delivers a restrained performance portraying a man exhausted by power and haunted by the consequences of his past.
Barry Keoghan as Duke Shelby
The breakout character of the film. Duke represents a new and volatile generation of Shelby leadership.
Rebecca Ferguson as Zelda
A mysterious Romany seer who helps guide Tommy back toward confronting his unfinished responsibilities.
Tim Roth as John Beckett
A calculating political extremist whose financial sabotage scheme drives the central conflict.
Sophie Rundle as Ada Thorne
Now an influential political figure, Ada acts as the voice urging Tommy to return and intervene.
Stephen Graham as Hayden Stagg
A loyal but pragmatic figure tied to the Shelby world who assists during the wartime turmoil.
Ned Dennehy, Packy Lee and Ian Peck return as Charlie Strong, Johnny Dogs and Curly, maintaining continuity with the original series.
The film successfully bridges two worlds: a continuation for loyal viewers and a surprisingly accessible entry point for newcomers.
While the pacing occasionally slows during its reflective moments, the performances from Cillian Murphy and Barry Keoghan anchor the story emotionally. The father–son conflict provides the film’s strongest dramatic thread, and the wartime backdrop gives the Shelby saga a larger historical context.
Visually the film retains the stylish grit that defined the series, with its blend of crime drama, music-driven sequences and brooding atmosphere.
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Is Peaky Blinders The Immortal Man connected to the original series?
Yes. The film continues the story several years after the final season of the BBC series, though it is structured so that new viewers can still follow the narrative.
Is the ending happy or sad?
The ending lands somewhere in between. The immediate threat is stopped and Duke appears to step back from the worst path, but Tommy remains a deeply damaged man who never fully escapes the consequences of his past.
Will there be Peaky Blinders The Immortal Man sequel or part 2?
A sequel or follow-up film has not been officially confirmed. However, rumours continue circulating among fans that the story could continue.
What could happen if a sequel happens?
If another film or series chapter happens, the story would likely focus on Duke Shelby leading a new generation of Peaky Blinders while Tommy remains a guiding but distant figure. The conflict between legacy and redemption could become the central theme.
Ultimately the decision will depend heavily on Netflix and whether the story is meant to conclude here or continue toward a larger final chapter.
Reports suggest creator Stephen Knight has long hinted that the Shelby story still has a final ending planned, but that it may not arrive just yet.
With Peaky Blinders The Immortal Man, the Shelby saga moves into a new era while still honouring the character who defined it. The film may not close the book entirely, but it certainly turns the page.
And that final question remains hanging in the air for viewers. Is this truly the end of Tommy Shelby’s story, or just the calm before another chapter begins? Fans are already debating what comes next. What do you think should happen to the Shelby family if the story continues?