The BBC has commissioned two new series of Peaky Blinders, shifting the crime drama to 1953 post-war Birmingham with a new generation of the Shelby family. Created by Steven Knight and executive produced by Cillian Murphy, the production is backed by local authorities and follows the recent release of the franchise film The Immortal Man.
The BBC has announced two new series continuing the Peaky Blinders saga, originally a hit from 2013 to 2022 across six seasons. Set in 1953 amid Birmingham's reconstruction after the WWII Birmingham Blitz, the shows will depict a 'brutal contest' for control of the city's rebuilding, with the Shelby family at its heart.
Creator Steven Knight stated: “I’m thrilled to be announcing this new chapter in the Peaky Blinders story. Once again it will be rooted in Birmingham and will tell the story of a city rising from the ashes of the Birmingham blitz. The new generation of Shelbys have taken the wheel and it will be a hell of a ride.”
The BBC synopsis reads: "Britain, 1953. After being heavily bombed in WWII, Birmingham is building a better future out of concrete and steel. In a new era of Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders, the race to own Birmingham’s massive reconstruction project becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions. This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and danger: with the Shelby family right at its blood-soaked heart."
Each series will consist of six episodes, totaling 12 new installments. Cillian Murphy, who played Tommy Shelby in the original run, is an executive producer. The shows will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, with Netflix distributing internationally outside the UK. Filming begins at Digbeth Loc. Studios in Birmingham, produced by Kudos and Garrison Drama.
This is the first commission under a new partnership between the BBC, West Midlands Combined Authority, and Create Central to boost regional production. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: "Peaky Blinders is a worldwide phenomenon that's boosted our tourism and global reach. We're proud to be working with the team bringing the production back to the Shelbys' home of Birmingham and job opportunities will follow for local people... It's this sort of backing... that will turn the West Midlands into the creative capital of the UK."
The announcement follows the cinematic release of Peaky Blinders film The Immortal Man, featuring major recasting, which hit select cinemas recently and premieres on Netflix on March 20. The original series remain available on BBC iPlayer, and the franchise has inspired projects like a ballet production.
