Jamie Bell and Charlie Heaton have been confirmed as leading cast members for an upcoming spin-off series of the popular television show, Peaky Blinders. This new project will continue the story from the critically acclaimed series that concluded in 2022, with Cillian Murphy playing the infamous gangster Tommy Shelby.
Jamie Bell has been cast as Duke “Erasmus” Shelby, the new head of the violent crime gang. The narrative will take place a decade after the events of the recently released film, The Immortal Man. Set in 1950s Birmingham, the series will explore the city’s post-Second World War environment, focusing on an “older, wiser, more ambitious and more dangerous” Duke.
Charlie Heaton, known for his role in Stranger Things, is also set to join the cast. Alongside him are Jessica Brown Findlay from Downton Abbey and Lashana Lynch, who starred in The Day Of The Jackal. Lucy Karczewski, an actress making her television debut, is also part of the cast additions.
Steven Knight, the creator and writer of Peaky Blinders, expressed his excitement about the new era of the series: “I am thrilled that we are announcing a new era of Peaky Blinders, moving the story to post-war Birmingham in the early 50s. We are incredibly fortunate to have Jamie Bell taking the role of Tommy Shelby’s oldest son, Duke, and to have Charlie Heaton also leading the cast. There are more exciting cast announcements to come, and Peaky is on the road again.”
The announcement follows the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, a spin-off film where Cillian Murphy reprises his role as the ruthless gangster Shelby. The original TV series, which followed the Birmingham-based Shelby crime family, first aired on the BBC in 2013 and has since become a globally successful franchise.
The new series has been commissioned for two seasons, each consisting of six 60-minute episodes. It will be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, BBC One, and Netflix. More details about the production are yet to be revealed.
