The BBC has released the first image of Charlie Heaton as Charles Shelby in the highly anticipated return of Peaky Blinders. The beloved crime drama is entering a new era, set in post-war Birmingham during the early 1950s, with a fresh generation of the Shelby family taking centre stage.
New Cast and Characters
Jamie Bell leads the new series as Duke Shelby, replacing Barry Keoghan who played the role in the recent Netflix film The Immortal Man. Charlie Heaton portrays Charles Shelby, Duke's younger half-brother. The cast also includes Jessica Brown Findlay, Lashana Lynch, and Lucy Karczewski in her television debut.
Plot Synopsis
The BBC's official synopsis reads: "Having fought a violent war, much of it behind enemy lines, Charles Shelby is now embracing normality. He hasn't seen his half-brother Duke in years. Charles severed all ties to the Peaky Blinders gang and the hedonistic Shelby lifestyle. But can you ever escape your own blood?"
Set a decade after World War Two, the series explores the race to rebuild Birmingham, a city of unprecedented opportunity and danger.
Production Details
Written and created by Steven Knight, the new series is currently filming in and around Birmingham. The original series aired from 2013 to 2021, following the fictional gang from the 1880s to the 1920s. The new series consists of two six-episode parts, premiering on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and on Netflix worldwide.
Passing the Torch
In The Immortal Man, Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) died in his son Duke's arms, whispering, "Heavy lies the crown." In a letter, he wrote: "Burn my body, let the ash blow. I am free." This marks the end of Tommy's story and the beginning of a new chapter for the Shelby family.
Steven Knight expressed his excitement: "I am thrilled that we are announcing a new era of Peaky Blinders. We are incredibly fortunate to have Jamie Bell and Charlie Heaton leading the cast. There are more exciting cast announcements to come."
Peaky Blinders is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
