There’s a new Duke in town (and no, thankfully, it’s not got anything to do with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.) Following the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man in cinemas and on Netflix, the movie marking the final chapter in the book of one Tommy Shelby, writer-creator Steven Knight’s focus has fully turned to the next generation of his Birmingham mob drama — and while Tommy’s son Duke will be at its forefront, Barry Keoghan, who played him last, won’t be. Per Deadline‘s reporting, Jamie Bell is set to play Duke Shelby in Netflix and the BBC’s upcoming Peaky Blinders sequel series, and you can check out a first look at the All Of Us Strangers star in character below.
Set a full decade after the events of Immortal Man, it makes sense that Knight’s new Peaky series brings with it a new actor stepping into Duke Shelby’s shoes. And as we now know, Jamie Bell isn’t the only new face heading for the cobbled streets of Brum. Also aboard the new series — which has already scored a two-season order — are Stranger Things‘ Charlie Heaton, ex-007 Lashana Lynch, Downton Abbey‘s Jessica Brown Findlay, and Stereophonic star Lucy Karczewski. According to the new series’ logline, “in this new era of Peaky Blinders, a decade after World War Two, the race to rebuild Birmingham becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions. This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and jeopardy. At its blood-soaked heart is Duke Shelby (Bell): older, wiser, more ambitious, and most certainly more dangerous.” It’s believed but as-yet-unconfirmed that Charlie Heaton will be leading the Peaky Blinders alongside Bell’s Duke in the new show.
“I am thrilled that we are announcing a new era of Peaky Blinders, moving the story to post-war Birmingham in the early 50s,” said Knight — who, it’s worth noting, also currently remains deep in the trenches of writing Denis Villeneuve’s new James Bond movie at Amazon — in a statement accompanying today’s casting news. “We are incredibly fortunate to have Jamie Bell taking the role of Tommy Shelby’s oldest son, Duke, and to have Charlie Heaton also leading the cast. There are more exciting cast announcements to come, and Peaky is on the road again.”
Already filming at Knight’s Digbeth Loc. Studios in Birmingham, this new Peaky Blinders show looks primed and ready to launch a whole new era for the critically acclaimed mob saga after the passing of the torch that was The Immortal Man. And by order of Empire, we’ll take another six seasons and a movie of Peaky shenanigans if it’s on offer, please and thank you Mr. Knight.
