5 Reasons Why Tommy Shelby Is 'The Immortal Man' In The New Peaky Blinders Movie (Updated December 2025)

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The mystery of 'The Immortal Man' is finally being solved as of December 2025, with the confirmation that the highly anticipated Peaky Blinders feature film will officially carry this provocative title. This news has sent shockwaves through the fandom, solidifying a long-held theory that the legendary Thomas 'Tommy' Shelby, portrayed by the Oscar-winning Cillian Murphy, is the character destined to defy death one last time. The film, which is set to be the final chapter in the Shelby family saga, promises to be the darkest and most expansive yet, picking up where the series left off and plunging the gang into the chaos of World War II.

The title Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is a direct challenge to the fate of its protagonist, who has faced firing squads, assassination attempts, and even a terminal diagnosis, only to ride away on his horse into the sunrise. With series creator Steven Knight returning to pen the script and Tom Harper directing, the movie is scheduled for a theatrical release in March 2026, followed by a global debut on Netflix. This article dives deep into the official details, the all-star cast, and the compelling reasons why Tommy Shelby is the only logical candidate for the title of 'The Immortal Man'.

The Official Profile: Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

The upcoming film is a direct continuation of the narrative established in Season 6 of the television series, which concluded with Tommy Shelby escaping a fake tuberculosis diagnosis and riding off to an uncertain future. The movie will serve as the grand finale, bringing the story to a dramatic close against the backdrop of a world at war.

  • Title: Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
  • Director: Tom Harper (who previously directed episodes in Season 1)
  • Writer: Steven Knight (Series Creator)
  • Starring: Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby
  • Release Date: March 6, 2026 (Theatrical), March 20, 2026 (Netflix)
  • Setting: The film is confirmed to be set during the period of World War II, a significant escalation from the inter-war years of the series.

Key Confirmed and Rumored Cast Members

The film boasts a powerful ensemble, blending beloved returning characters with major new additions that signal a shift in the power dynamics of the Birmingham underworld and the global stage.

  • Cillian Murphy: Returns as the iconic Thomas Shelby, the central figure of the 'Immortal Man' mystery.
  • Barry Keoghan: A major new addition, with strong rumors suggesting he will lead a new generation of the Peaky Blinders gang or play a significant new antagonist.
  • Rebecca Ferguson: Another high-profile new cast member, whose role is currently undisclosed but is expected to be pivotal.
  • Returning Cast: Sophie Rundle (Ada Thorne), Ned Dennehy (Charlie Strong), and Packy Lee (Johnny Dogs) are among the expected returns, ensuring the core Shelby family and their allies remain central.
  • Potential Returns: Fans are eagerly awaiting news on whether Tom Hardy will reprise his role as the fan-favorite Alfie Solomons, a character who has already cheated death once.

The Legend of Tommy Shelby: Why He is 'The Immortal Man'

The most compelling argument for Tommy Shelby being 'The Immortal Man' lies in his history. Throughout six seasons, Tommy has demonstrated an uncanny ability to survive situations that would have killed any other man, leading many to believe he is either blessed, cursed, or simply touched by a strange form of destiny.

1. The Unkillable Soldier of World War I

Tommy’s survival begins in the trenches of the First World War, an experience that defined his life and his trauma. He served as a tunneler, a job with an exceptionally high mortality rate, where he was exposed to explosions, gas, and the constant threat of being buried alive. His survival of the Battle of the Somme and his subsequent return to Birmingham is the foundational myth of his invincibility. It is theorized that a part of him died in those tunnels, and the man who returned is a ghost—a person already dead, and thus, unkillable.

2. The Firing Squad and Execution Escape

In Season 2, Tommy faces a seemingly inescapable end. He is taken to a field to be executed by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) after a betrayal. As the gun is pointed at his head, he is miraculously saved by a secret agent working for Winston Churchill. This event is a literal resurrection, pulling him back from the brink of death through the intervention of a higher power (in this case, the British government). This near-death experience cemented his status as a man with a destiny greater than his enemies.

3. The Gypsy Curse and the Sapphire

The series frequently touches on the Shelby family's Romani heritage and the influence of curses and fate. In Season 3, a sapphire necklace is revealed to be cursed, a curse that seemingly causes the death of his wife, Grace Shelby. Tommy believes he is immune to the curse, or perhaps that his own dark nature has already absorbed the worst of it. The constant battle between his rational, political mind and his belief in the gypsy magic and destiny reinforces his mythical status.

4. The Fake Tuberculosis Diagnosis

The climax of Season 6 saw Tommy finally ready to accept his death after being diagnosed with a fatal tuberculoma. He prepared to commit suicide, only to be saved at the last minute by the revelation that the diagnosis was a cruel trick orchestrated by his nemesis, Sir Oswald Mosley, and his doctor. This ultimate test of fate—a deliberate acceptance of death followed by a last-second reprieve—is the final piece of evidence that the universe, or the script, simply will not allow Thomas Shelby to die. He is, by all accounts, 'The Immortal Man'.

Plot Predictions: What the World War II Setting Means for the Shelby Family

The new film’s setting in the era of World War II is not accidental. It provides a massive canvas for Steven Knight to conclude Tommy's story on a truly epic scale. The 'Immortal Man' title takes on a new, darker meaning when placed against the backdrop of global conflict.

The Final Battle Against Fascism and the 'True' Immortal Man

While the title clearly points to Tommy, a powerful fan theory suggests that 'The Immortal Man' refers to the ideology of fascism itself, which Tommy has been fighting for seasons. Figures like Sir Oswald Mosley and his Blackshirts represent a political evil that seems to survive all attempts to destroy it, rising again in different forms across Europe.

The film could position Tommy as the 'Immortal Man' who must sacrifice his own life to finally defeat the 'immortal' evil of the rising Nazi regime. This would give his survival a profound, tragic purpose, moving him from a gangster with a death wish to a national hero whose legacy is his eternal fight against oppression.

The New Generation and the Passing of the Torch

The casting of Barry Keoghan suggests a focus on the next generation of the Shelby family and the Peaky Blinders. If Tommy is truly immortal—or at least, unable to find peace through death—the film may focus on his struggle to secure a future for his children, including his son Charles and his illegitimate son Duke Shelby.

The 'Immortal Man' may be Tommy's spirit, which will live on through the next generation of the gang, led by Keoghan's character, as they navigate the treacherous landscape of the 1940s. Tommy's final act may be to pass on his power, his knowledge, and his curse to a successor, allowing him to finally rest.

The End of the Line for the Shelby Empire

Steven Knight has always maintained that the story would end with the first air raid siren of World War II, a symbolic end to the era of the Peaky Blinders as we know them. The movie, set *during* the war, suggests the story will continue beyond this point, perhaps showing the final disintegration of the Shelby Company Limited as a criminal enterprise. The 'Immortal Man' is a figure who has outlived his time, a relic of the post-WWI era who must confront a modern, mechanized war he cannot win through sheer force of will or cunning. His immortality may be his curse—to survive only to watch everything he built crumble.

5 Reasons Why Tommy Shelby is 'The Immortal Man' in the New Peaky Blinders Movie (Updated December 2025)
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