Peaky Blinders Returns – But This Time, It’s Not the Shelby Family You Know!

The Peaky Blinders are coming home—this time with a twist that’s set to electrify fans and transform Birmingham into the center stage of British television once again. Steven Knight, the acclaimed creator of the original series, has officially confirmed that a new spin-off set in the 1950s is on the horizon. This highly anticipated chapter will delve into the exploits of the “next generation” of Peaky Blinders and will be filmed in Birmingham, the very city that inspired the legendary saga.

After months of swirling rumors and mounting speculation, Knight put the chatter to rest. “There is a new series and what’s really great for Birmingham is that, like the film, it will be shot here,” Knight declared, according to Birmingham Live. Notably, the creator—who grew up in Birmingham himself—teased that Cillian Murphy could reprise his role as the enigmatic Thomas Shelby, though details remain tightly guarded until closer to the series debut.

Set against the backdrop of the 1950s, a time marked by the rise of the teddy boys and infamous underworld figures like the Krays, the new series promises a fresh era for the Shelby clan. Filming will take place at the newly established Digbeth Loc film and TV studios, a project close to Knight’s heart. The show is slated for release next year on the BBC, with Netflix also backing the production, and will pick up after the highly anticipated Peaky Blinders film, “Immortal Man.” That movie, starring Murphy alongside Stephen Graham, Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, and Barry Keoghan, was shot almost entirely in Birmingham and at the nearby Black Country Living Museum.

Knight has made a point of showcasing the authentic character of his hometown. “You will see some amazing scenes set in the centre of Birmingham, around the canals, at and around the Town Hall,” he promised. This marks a major shift from previous seasons, which often filmed in Leeds and Manchester due to long-standing misconceptions about Birmingham’s suitability as a filming location. “In fact, the right settings are right here—all we had to do was reveal the truth to them,” Knight said. He described the cast and crew as “astonished” by the wealth of suitable backdrops Birmingham has to offer, noting the overwhelmingly positive reactions from everyone involved.

Beyond its landscapes, Knight highlighted Birmingham’s unique appeal: “Connectivity is important, it’s a big deal to be not far from London, with good motorway, air and train links. But it’s the people that do it—the friendliness of the people, and that they are hard working and get things done.”

The announcement of the Peaky Blinders spin-off is more than just a TV event; it’s a celebration of Birmingham’s emergence as a creative powerhouse. The city is also hosting other pivotal productions, including BBC’s Masterchef, which has made its new home in a bespoke Digbeth studio. These moves are poised to raise Birmingham’s cultural profile at a time when, as Knight acknowledges, “The bin strike is a low ebb and from here we will go up. Birmingham is on the up, I firmly believe that. We need to stop putting ourselves down and believe in ourselves.”

This optimism is echoed by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, who called the return of Peaky Blinders “only right” for Birmingham. “The West Midlands is fast becoming a powerhouse for TV and film, and I’m doing everything I can to create opportunities for the brilliant creative talent we have here—including opening a new regional film office this autumn,” Parker added.

As filming gears up for both the movie and the new spin-off, Birmingham stands on the brink of a cultural renaissance, ready to welcome the Shelby legacy home—and with it, a bold new era for the city and its people.