Movies Explore: Peaky Blinders Movie Cast: Is Cillian Murphy the Only Returning Shelby?

Who’s actually back for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (and who’s missing)?

Last updated: February 23, 2026

The headline answer: no—Cillian Murphy is not the only returning Shelby. He is absolutely the face of the film (Tommy Shelby is back, by order of the Peaky Blinders), but the confirmed cast also includes Sophie Rundle returning as Ada Thorne (née Shelby), meaning there’s at least one more core Shelby in the mix. Beyond the family name, several familiar allies return too—while a few major fan-favorites have notably not been announced.

Netflix’s official synopsis places the film in Birmingham, 1940, with World War II reshaping everything—politics, violence, and the Shelby legacy. Tommy is pulled back from exile for what’s being framed as his most destructive reckoning yet.

Watch the official trailer (YouTube)

Release dates (limited theaters + Netflix)

Select theaters: March 6, 2026
Netflix streaming: March 20, 2026

That two-step rollout has already sparked spoiler anxiety in fan communities—especially in places where the theatrical run is limited.

Twitter/X update (official)

Peaky Blinders movie cast: confirmed names (so far)

Netflix has publicly listed a mix of returning familiar faces and heavyweight newcomers. Here’s the cleanest “confirmed” snapshot based on Netflix’s published cast list and major entertainment reporting.

Actor	Returning to the Peaky universe?	Character (confirmed/commonly reported)	What it likely means
Cillian Murphy	Yes	Tommy Shelby	The film’s core POV; the Shelby legacy story stays centered on Tommy.
Sophie Rundle	Yes	Ada Thorne (née Shelby)	Ada remains the most important “inside the family” voice besides Tommy—especially with key siblings gone.
Stephen Graham	Yes	Hayden Stagg	Signals the film still cares about working-class power dynamics and alliances beyond the Shelbys.
Ned Dennehy	Yes	Charlie Strong	Uncle Charlie’s presence usually means the “home base” and family logistics are still in play.
Packy Lee	Yes	Johnny Dogs	Johnny tends to be a loyalty test in human form—if he’s around, trust and betrayal will matter.
Ian Peck	Yes	Curly	A return fans celebrate; Curly often represents the “ordinary” cost of Shelby wars.
Rebecca Ferguson	New	Kaulo (reported)	A major new force; reporting suggests a role tied to the show’s “fate/destiny” undertones.
Tim Roth	New	Beckett (reported)	A new antagonist-type presence, with reporting linking him to fascist sympathies in wartime Britain.
Barry Keoghan	New	Duke Shelby (reported)	The biggest “next generation” signal: the Peaky brand may outgrow Tommy—even against his wishes.
Jay Lycurgo	New	Not officially detailed	Kept under wraps; likely connected to the new generation / new faction energy.

So… is Cillian Murphy the only returning Shelby?

If “Shelby” means “blood family with the Shelby name,” then Cillian Murphy’s Tommy isn’t alone—because Ada (Sophie Rundle) is confirmed back, and multiple reports identify Barry Keoghan as Duke Shelby in the film. That gives the movie a three-generation spine: the established king (Tommy), the surviving sibling with moral clarity (Ada), and the younger Shelby energy (Duke) that can either save the legacy or mutate it.

If “Shelby” means “the iconic Shelby brothers era,” that’s where the roster looks thinner. Several major Shelbys from earlier seasons cannot return due to on-screen deaths, and a few others simply haven’t been announced for the film at all.

The big missing name: what about Arthur Shelby?

As of February 23, 2026, Paul Anderson is not included in Netflix’s published cast list for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. That doesn’t fully rule out surprises (uncredited cameos happen), but it does mean that any “Arthur is definitely back” claim is, right now, speculation.

What Reddit Theories Say About Arthur Shelby’s Return

Peaky movie

The most common fan logic goes like this: if the film is meant to be a true “bookend,” it would feel strange to many viewers to end Tommy’s story without at least acknowledging Arthur’s fate. But until Netflix confirms it on record, the safest approach is to assume Arthur is not part of the main advertised cast.

New characters: why the newcomers matter in a WWII Peaky story

Moving Peaky Blinders into 1940 changes the whole “shape” of the conflict. In the 1920s/30s, the Shelbys could outmaneuver rivals through street power, deals, and political leverage. In wartime Britain, the stakes escalate: secrecy, state pressure, ideology, and the machinery of war shrink the space for “just gang business.”

Reporting frames Rebecca Ferguson’s Kaulo as a mysterious, powerful figure tied to the franchise’s recurring themes of fate and the supernatural edge that’s always hovered around Tommy’s trauma and choices. Meanwhile, Tim Roth’s Beckett is described as a dangerous political presence (with fascist sympathy mentioned in coverage), which is exactly the kind of enemy that can’t be solved with a simple Shelby-style settlement.

Instagram post (official promo)

Returning non-Shelbys you’ll want to remember

Even if the Shelby family tree looks different, the movie isn’t abandoning the “Peaky world.” Returning characters like Johnny Dogs, Uncle Charlie, Curly, and Hayden Stagg are a huge signal: the film is still grounded in the relationships that made the show work—loyalty, labor, and the day-to-day mechanics behind the myth.

What this cast list suggests about the movie’s core conflict

Based on the official premise and what’s been revealed about the father/son structure in coverage, the movie’s emotional engine looks less like “Tommy vs. one rival gang” and more like:

Tommy vs. Tommy: the old instincts returning during WWII pressure.
Legacy vs. blood: what the Shelby name demands vs. what it destroys.
Old Peaky rules vs. new wartime reality: the street code colliding with ideology and the state.

In other words, the “new faces” aren’t just star power—they’re the tools to make the Peaky universe feel dangerous again at a bigger scale.

Reddit Reactions: will spoilers hit before Netflix streaming?

The gap between March 6 and 20th will be so full of spoilers

If you’re trying to go in cold, that two-week window between select theaters (March 6) and Netflix (March 20) is where plot twists can leak hard—especially if key scenes become meme fuel.

What’s next after the movie? (Yes, more Peaky is coming)

Netflix has also announced a Peaky Blinders sequel series set in Britain, 1953, built as two six-episode seasons and focused on a new era and a new generation around Birmingham’s reconstruction. Cillian Murphy is listed among the executive producers.

Quick FAQ

Is Tommy Shelby confirmed for the movie?

Yes—Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby, and Netflix’s official synopsis centers on Tommy being driven back from exile in 1940 Birmingham.

Is Ada Shelby returning?

Yes—Sophie Rundle is confirmed back as Ada Thorne (née Shelby), and she appears prominently in reporting around the film’s conflict.

Is Arthur Shelby confirmed?

Not as of February 23, 2026. He is not on Netflix’s published cast list. Treat any “Arthur is definitely in it” claims as unconfirmed unless Netflix (or the filmmakers) say otherwise.

When does the movie come out?

Select theaters March 6, 2026; Netflix March 20, 2026.

Peaky Blinders Movie Cast: Is Cillian Murphy the Only Returning Shelby?