Steven Knight was thrilled as he announced the show that will tell the story of a new generation of Shelbys
Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders(Image: BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd 2019/Robert Viglasky)
The BBC has confirmed Peaky Blinders will return for two more seasons that will tell the story of a new generation of Shelbys. Although the hit BBC show was set in Birmingham, it was largely filmed in Liverpool across its initial six season run.
The six seasons followed the Shelby family’s rise to power in the aftermath of World War One and has become a cultural phenomenon since it first arrived on our screens in 2013. A film adaptation titled The Immortal Man has finished production and will soon land on Netflix. However, this will not be the end of the Shelby family story as creator Steven Knight has confirmed a new tale is in the works, set after World War II.
The writer said: “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.”
In the BBC statement, the synopsis said: “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.” While the original season was largely filmed in Liverpool, the announcement confirmed this new show will be will be filmed at Digbeth Loc. Studios in Birmingham, and will be set in the city.
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: “This game-changing show made a huge impact when it first came to our screens 12 years ago and it is one of the BBC’s most-loved dramas.
“Steven has worked his magic once again and I can’t wait for his scripts to be brought to life when filming begins in Birmingham. We are delighted to be working with Kudos, Garrison Drama and Netflix on this epic show. There’s plenty of drama for Peaky fans to look forward to!”
Mona Qureshi for Netflix says: “We couldn’t be more excited to be embarking on a new chapter of Peaky Blinders with our wonderful partners at Kudos, Garrison Drama and the BBC. There are few modern storytellers to match Steven Knight and we will be on the edge of our seats as he returns to the streets of Birmingham and to the next generation of the Shelby family. Along with our global audience, we are ready to be captivated anew!”
Oscar winning actor Cillian Murphy starred in the initial show as lead character Tommy Shelby. Writer Steven spoke to the ECHO last year and said he knew Liverpool was the perfect place to film the show on his first day on set when he laid eyes on the interior of the Tobacco Warehouse at Stanley Dock.
He told the ECHO: “The size and the scale of that great big warehouse was absolutely amazing and makes you feel as though you’re in New York.
“I’d written it with that sort of scale in mind and then suddenly, to be in a place, a geographical location, that is almost encouraging you and is saying ‘yeah, go for it’.
“We could have started shooting in a muddy field somewhere but we started shooting there and it was just great because it gave everybody that feeling, that swagger that we can do this. This is something that we’re doing on a big scale.”
Liverpool has a special place in Steven’s heart as he regularly returns to the city for his work, including for his latest show, House of Guinness, which is now on Netflix.
He said: “There’s a load of locations in Liverpool that you can’t find anywhere else that evoke the 20s and 30s. [For Peaky Blinders] we shot a lot of stuff in the street where Ringo Starr was born. That street was amazing.”
Steven loves staying in Liverpool during filming and drew parallels with his home city, Birmingham. He said: “The people of Liverpool are similar to the people of Birmingham. Having a laugh, wanting to have a laugh, self deprecating, aware of their own absurdity, enjoying a drink.
“It feels like there’s a commonality. Not just with Liverpool and Birmingham, but the East end of London and all of those other cities where the important thing is the attitude of the people, which makes the whole thing work.”