Four years after the series finale, Steven Knight's period crime drama returns with a feature film that serves as an enjoyable capper to the story. Set in 1940, the film follows Tommy Shelby as he confronts a Nazi plot to crash Britain's economy using counterfeit currency. The action is as brutal as ever, with Shelby stuffing a hand grenade down a young tough's shirt in one memorable scene.
Director Tom Harper weaves existing Blinders lore into a freestanding wartime resistance storyline. The film balances fan service with accessibility for newcomers, making it likely to be a streaming hit when it arrives on Netflix on March 20. Barry Keoghan joins the cast as Duke Shelby, Tommy's estranged son and the new Peaky Blinders boss, who is recruited by Nazi collaborator Beckett (Tim Roth) to distribute fake banknotes.
Cillian Murphy reprises his role as Tommy Shelby, now retired and grieving the deaths of his daughter and brother. His return to action is prompted by his sister Ada (Sophie Rundle) and Romany seer Zelda (Rebecca Ferguson). The film looks suitably grimy, shot on film by George Steel with production design by Jacqueline Abrahams recreating Blitz-era England.
While the film may find most of its audience on streaming, it serves as a reminder of the cinematic qualities of the series. The storytelling is beefy and pulpy, with robust production values. The cast also includes Stephen Graham as a familiar face from the series. The film opens in limited theatrical release from Friday before streaming.
