What You Need To Recall About Tommy Shelby Before The Immortal Man

One of television’s most iconic antiheroes is about to make his return — and if it’s been a while since you last visited Birmingham’s most dangerous family, you’re not alone. Peaky Blinders, the BBC crime drama that turned Tommy Shelby into a global phenomenon, is coming back in a new Netflix film titled The Immortal Man. Before that premiere arrives, millions of fans are scrambling to remember exactly where the story left off.

The original series ran for six seasons, building a sprawling, morally complex world of gangsters, politicians, trauma, and ambition set against the backdrop of post-World War I Britain. By the time the finale aired, the show had accumulated a fanbase that spanned continents. Now, with a feature-length continuation on the way, the question on every viewer’s mind is simple: what do you actually need to remember?

Because

Where Peaky Blinders Left Off After Six Seasons

The sixth and final season of Peaky Blinders aired on BBC One in 2022 and brought Tommy Shelby’s television story to a dramatic, emotionally charged close. Cillian Murphy, who played Tommy throughout the entire run, delivered what many critics considered his finest performance in the role — a man hollowed out by grief, illness, and decades of violence.

By the end of Season 6, Tommy had been diagnosed with tuberculoma, a condition that was initially presented as a terminal sentence. The season also dealt heavily with the death of his daughter Ruby, the dissolution of his family empire, and his increasingly fractured mental state. The finale left audiences with a moment that seemed to gesture toward Tommy’s death — only to pull back in a way that kept the door open for exactly the kind of continuation The Immortal Man represents.

The title of the film itself feels like a direct response to that ending. Tommy Shelby, against all odds, survives. The immortal man, indeed.

The Key Characters and Relationships You Should Have in Mind

Peaky Blinders was never just about Tommy. The show built an entire ecosystem of characters whose fates are worth remembering as the film approaches.

• Arthur Shelby — Tommy’s older brother and enforcer, whose struggles with violence, faith, and addiction ran through the entire series. His arc was one of the show’s most emotionally resonant.
• Polly Gray — Tommy’s aunt and the family’s sharpest strategist, played by Helen McCrory. Polly died in Season 6, a real-world reflection of McCrory’s passing in 2021. Her absence looms over everything that follows.
• Michael Gray — Polly’s son, whose vendetta against Tommy drove much of the final season’s tension. Their conflict ended violently.
• Lizzie Shelby — Tommy’s wife, who endured extraordinary loss including the death of their daughter Ruby. By the finale, her relationship with Tommy had essentially collapsed under the weight of everything they’d suffered.
• Ada Shelby — Tommy’s sister and arguably the character with the clearest moral compass in the entire family. She remained one of the few people Tommy consistently trusted.

A Quick Season-by-Season Timeline

Why The Immortal Man Matters for the Franchise

The move from television series to Netflix film is a significant one. Creator Steven Knight had long spoken about his ambition to bring the Peaky Blinders story to the big screen, and The Immortal Man represents that vision finally taking shape. Netflix’s involvement signals a global distribution strategy that could introduce the Shelby family to an entirely new generation of viewers.

For existing fans, the film is a chance to see whether the threads left dangling in the Season 6 finale get picked up — and how Tommy Shelby functions in a world that has continued to change around him. The 1930s setting, with fascism rising across Europe, provides a historically rich backdrop that the show was already beginning to explore in its final seasons.

Cillian Murphy’s involvement was confirmed, marking his return to the role that made him an international star long before his Oscar-winning turn in Oppenheimer. That real-world trajectory makes his comeback as Tommy feel even more weighted — audiences will be watching a different kind of actor step back into a familiar coat.

What to Do Before You Watch

If you have time, a rewatch of Season 6 is the most direct preparation. If you don’t, at minimum revisit the finale and the episodes surrounding Ruby’s death and Michael’s confrontation with Tommy — those are the emotional pressure points the film is most likely to build from.

Pay attention to where each surviving character ended up. The show has always rewarded viewers who remember the small moments: a broken promise, a look across a room, a name spoken in anger. The Immortal Man will almost certainly do the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man?
It is an upcoming Netflix film that continues the story of Tommy Shelby and the Shelby family following the conclusion of the BBC television series.

Is Cillian Murphy returning as Tommy Shelby?
Yes, Cillian Murphy’s return to the role of Tommy Shelby has been confirmed for the film.

Do I need to watch all six seasons before the film?
A full rewatch is ideal, but at minimum, familiarity with Season 6 and its key events — including Ruby’s death and Tommy’s illness — is strongly recommended.

What happened to Polly Gray in the series?
Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, was killed off in Season 6 following the real-life passing of actress Helen McCrory in 2021.

Where will The Immortal Man be available to watch?
The film will be available on Netflix, marking a shift from the show’s original BBC home to a global streaming platform.

Has a specific release date for The Immortal Man been confirmed?
The full confirmed release date details have not been verified in the available source material at this time — check Netflix and official Peaky Blinders channels for the latest updates.