Cillian Murphy says the continued popularity of Peaky blinders comes from its storytelling, not its performance.
The Irish actor, who plays Tommy Shelby, returns to the role in the upcoming Netflix film The immortal manwhere the story shifts to a new era and a younger generation led by his on-screen son, played by Barry Keoghan.
In recent statements, Cillian Murphy said the show’s strength comes from its long-form format, which allows characters to develop over time.
“It really allows you to explore all the light and shadows, all the different complexities that characters can have,” Subway Murphy quoted.
He continued, “And I think when you spend that much time with a character, you start to invest in them in an emotional, kind of intimate way, which you don’t always see with movies — you get it in a different way. But in long-form television it’s unusual, and there’s an ownership that the audience has, which is quite interesting.
Tim Roth, who also appears in the new project, also said that television allows more room to explore characters’ traits and flaws. He noted that entire episodes can focus on one aspect of a character, which is not always possible in films.
Despite the show’s global reach and Tommy Shelby’s popularity, Murphy rejected the idea that his performance is central to its success.
“It’s very humiliating when that happens, but I think it’s the fans,” he said.
Peaky blinders ran for six seasons before ending in 2022. The sequel film A mortal man will be released in theaters on March 6, 2026 and premiere on Netflix on March 20, 2026.
