Peaky Blinders boss teases 'brilliant' movie as he opens up on expanding universe

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has teased the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the gritty drama.

In an exclusive chat with Reach Screen Time, Knight said the film was "brilliant". He continued: "We're a long way down the road and it's really, really good. So, hopefully people will look forward to it."

Knight said the Peaky Blinders universe seemed to be self-sustaining, going addressing the film's place in the franchise: "The series runs and then it felt natural to conclude that part of the story, not the whole world, but that part of the story.

"With the movie, thankfully, it's worked really well. Then we looked to the future and who knows what other forms Peaky could take?"

Netflix previously confirmed filming on the Peaky Blinders movie had wrapped back in December 2024 and shared a first look, but no release date has been confirmed yet.

Nonetheless, Peaky Blinders fans have something else they can sink their teeth into: Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, which arrives at the legendary Sadler's Wells Theatre next month.

The dance show first debuted in 2022 in Peaky's native Birmingham, before embarking on national and European tours.

Knight revealed that from Paris to Istanbul, performances of Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby had received standing ovations, even for the matinees.

Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby came about after esteemed dance company Rambert, which has been around since the 1920s, was first brought on board to choreograph scenes for an episode of season five featuring a performance of Swan Lake at Tommy Shelby's (played by Tommy Shelby) country mansion.

Knight worked with Rambert's artistic director Benoit Swan Pouffer on the ballet together, with the writer penning the script and the latter on choreography duties.

The stage show focuses on the love story between Tommy Shelby and his first wife, Grace Burgess (Annabelle Wallis) with the romance being a fan-favourite.

Knight teased fans of the show would get a different take on the gangster that was a "deeper" version compared to his small screen iteration. He added: "It's a much more intimate portrayal of who he is."

Reflecting on the success of the Peaky Blinders TV series, which was inspired by the stories he heard about Birmingham while growing up, Knight said: "I think the whole thing about Peaky has been quite remarkable really."

He hadn't initially thought the BBC drama would be as successful around the world, however, he was sorely mistaken and noted Peaky Blinders fans spanned from Argentina to China.

Celebrity fans of Peaky Blinders include Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Snoop Dogg and David Beckham, to name but a handful. Meanwhile, the show has spawned a festival, a video game, and even a Primark collaboration.

In fact, Peaky Blinders mania has seeped into the national consciousness with baby names like Arthur and Ada growing in popularity, according to the Office of National Statistics.

Knight said the reception was "great" and gave him confidence to turn Peaky Blinders into a dance show, admitting the stage production's success was "beyond expectations".

Rambert's Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby will be heading to Sadler's Wells from Tuesday, August 5 to Saturday, August 16. Tickets are available now here