Introduction

With The Immortal Man (2025), director Tom Harper delivers a gritty and evocative continuation of the Peaky Blinders saga. At its center is Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby, a man both haunted and hardened by the shadows of war and the legacy of crime. The film is less a revival than a reckoning—an exploration of what it costs to rule an empire built on smoke, violence, and unshakable charisma.

A Return to Birmingham’s Dark Streets

Set in the turbulent 1940s, the film immerses us once again in Birmingham’s underworld. The landscape is scarred by conflict, but the old rules of power remain the same: survival demands cunning, loyalty, and ruthlessness. Harper’s direction sharpens every glance, every pause, until silence itself feels dangerous. The camera lingers on smoky rooms and shadowed alleys, amplifying the paranoia that defines this world.

The Cast That Breathes Fire

• Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby delivers a performance steeped in quiet menace and weary brilliance. His presence commands the screen, reminding us why he is among the most compelling figures in modern cinema.
• Stephen Graham electrifies as a ruthless rival, his volatility providing a perfect foil for Shelby’s calculated control.
• Rebecca Ferguson brings a dangerous allure as a double agent, her every move layered with ambiguity.
• Barry Keoghan remains the unpredictable wildcard—an agent of chaos whose loyalty is as fleeting as smoke.

Style and Atmosphere

Filmed at Digbeth Loc Studios, the production leans into noir-inspired imagery. Smoke, shadow, and silence dominate the visual language, while the score underscores the tension with haunting precision. The mood is one of elegant brutality, echoing the moral ambiguity of its characters. Each frame reminds us that in Shelby’s world, trust is a currency too costly to afford.

A Masterclass in Crime Drama

The Immortal Man is not content to merely extend the Peaky Blinders legacy—it interrogates it. The narrative explores the consequences of Tommy’s choices, asking whether a man who thrives on control can ever escape the chaos he creates. For fans, this film is both reward and challenge: it satisfies with familiar faces and razor-sharp dialogue, but it also dares to strip its anti-hero down to his most dangerous essence.

Conclusion

Harper’s film, anchored by Murphy’s unforgettable performance, transcends the conventions of television spin-offs. It is a film of atmosphere and reckoning, one that leaves its audience both unsettled and exhilarated. In the shadow of Birmingham’s smoke, The Immortal Man reminds us why Tommy Shelby is more than just a character—he is an enduring myth of power, corruption, and survival.