Cillian Murphy reveals what the ‘worst thing’ is about starring in Peaky Blinders

Cillian Murphy has spoken about the one thing which frustrates him about the Birmingham inspired Peaky Blinders drama series.

The Irish actor stars in Christopher Nolan’s new blockbuster Oppenheimer, which is set to be released this month (July) and it is one of the most anticipated films of the year, telling the story of the father of the atomic bomb and what happend to him after it was used in World War II. Ahead of the film’s release this Friday (July 18), the actor was asked about his role in the Peaky Blinders.

Murphy, who plays Tommy Shelby in the hit BBC gangster show, identified one aspect of this which causes him concern when asked if he had spoken to the show’s creator Steven Knight about appearing in the Peaky Blinders film.

He told the Radio Times: “That’s probably the worst thing about Peaky Blinders – getting asked about the movie all the time!” He added: “I would love to do a movie if there’s more story to tell. I’ll wait and see but I have no update for you on that.”

When will the Peaky Blinders film be made?

So, although it’s uncertain whether Cillian will be in the film, it is definitely going ahead. The Peaky Blinders movie is due to go into production some time in 2023, according to Knight, who told the BFI London Film Festival: “I am going to write the feature which will be set in and shot in Birmingham. And that will probably be the sort of the end of the road for Peaky Blinders as we know it.”

Knight has confirmed that the script is now finished, with production expected to begin in early next year, and a potential release date in Spring 2024. He also told the BBC: “We’re going to start shooting that early next year in Digbeth in Birmingham on location and in the studio. We should have that ready for Spring 2024.”

Knight also explained that they were in conversations with “great actors” for the movie, and wanted to continue to focus on emerging talent. He said: “There are so many people, so many great actors, that we are already sort of in conversation with for the film, and for whatever follows.

“But I think what we want to do is keep surprising people, and keep breaking new talent. Because it’s all out there, and there is a sort of consistency — what we’re doing is finding really good actors from a working-class sort of background, and telling that story.”