Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man has confirmed that Arthur Shelby died in 1938, two years before the events of the new film. The revelation comes early in the movie when Tommy Shelby places Ruby's scarf on Arthur's grave.
Initially, the cause of Arthur's death is unclear, with suggestions that he either took his own life or was accidentally killed by Tommy. However, it is later confirmed that Tommy deliberately killed Arthur during a confrontation fuelled by 'booze and rage'. Tommy confesses this after paying respects to Ada, admitting he 'wanted to be free of him'.
The decision to have Tommy kill Arthur has divided fans, with some calling it 'deeply unsatisfying' and 'very poor writing' on Reddit. However, actor Paul Anderson, who played Arthur, has expressed his support for the storyline, calling it 'a powerful thing to do' and praising creator Steven Knight's vision.
Anderson did not reprise his role for the film, and flashbacks depicting the fatal confrontation use an uncredited stand-in. He told LadBible he was 'slightly apprehensive' but thought the movie was 'amazing', though he wished the series had continued for more seasons.
