The Peaky Blinders universe is about to get bigger! In addition to the previously announced Peaky Blinders movie, Netflix is reportedly cooking up not one, but two sizzling hot spinoff series to expand the Peaky Blinders universe. Details about these two spinoffs are scarce, but a new report by Bloomberg revealed that one of these projects is a prequel to the original series, while the other is a sequel of some sort. Below is everything we know about the two Peaky Blinders spinoff shows and the future of the franchise in general.
Polly Spinoff
According to Bloomberg, one of the Peaky Blinders spinoffs in development at Netflix will tell the untold story of the formidable Elizabeth “Polly” Gray, the matriarch of the criminal Shelby family who was first introduced in the original show. This Peaky Blinders spinoff will offer a glimpse into her life before she crossed paths with the Shelbys. The potential new series will reportedly focus on Polly and her past, unraveling her rise from a fiery street sweeper to a cunning matriarch who eventually learned to navigate secrets and scandals within the bleak world of Peaky Blinders in Birmingham. Polly Gray was played in the original Peaky Blinders series by the late Helen McCrory.
Peaky Blinders Boston Spinoff
The other Peaky Blinders spinoff that is in the works at Netflix is reportedly set in Boston during the middle of the 20th century — a couple of decades after the original series where the Shelby name carries weight but faces fresh challenges and opportunities. The rumored series would be an exploration of a new frontier, witnessing how the Shelby legacy takes root in American soil and forging its own legend amidst the gritty underworld of Boston’s criminal scene.
What is the Peaky Blinders movie about?
In January 2021, series creator Steven Knight announced that a Peaky Blinders feature film is in the works. “We are in development,” he told Deadline of the film that will serve as a continuation of the show’s season 6. “It’s a fully formed idea and it has a beginning, middle, and end. And I think it’s going to be a fitting conclusion to the story told so far.”
The film, however, won’t be the end of the Peaky Blinders franchise, as Knight pointed out that the film will actually introduce new stories. “From it, there will be things I don’t really call spinoffs, but there will be other TV shows that I hope will come out of [it], that will continue to tell the story of this part of society.”
When asked what made him decide against the originally planned Peaky Blinders season 7, Knight replied: “COVID came along, and we lost a year of production. So we put our heads together and thought that it would be a good idea to do a movie instead of doing series seven.”
When Peaky Blinders won the Returning Drama Award at the 2022 National Television Awards ceremony in October 2022, Knight confirmed during his acceptance speech that production of the film would begin in Spring 2023. The movie is expected to hit theaters in 2024.
What is Peaky Blinders about?
For the uninitiated, Peaky Blinders follows the exploits of the titular crime gang in the aftermath of World War I. Set in 1919 Britain where despair and hedonism reign, the first season of the hit Netflix series opens with returning soldiers, newly minted revolutions, and criminal gangs that are fighting for survival in a nation rocked by economic upheaval. One of the most powerful gangs of the time is the Peaky Blinders, which is run by returning war hero Thomas “Tommy” Shelby and his family. Tommy, however, has bigger desires than just running the streets. When a crate of guns goes missing, he recognizes a chance to advance in the world because crime may pay but legal business pays much better.
Peaky Blinders had a huge ensemble cast. Led by Cillian Murphy who played the role of Tommy Shelby, the show’s main cast members include the abovementioned actress Helen McCrory as Polly Gray, Charlie Creed-Miles as Billy Kimber, Sam Neill as Chester Campbell, Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby Jr., Annabelle Wallis as Grace Shelby, Iddo Goldberg as Freddie Thorne, Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby, Joe Cole as Johnny Shelby, Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong, and Benjamin Zephaniah as Jimmy Jesus.
The series also starred Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons, Finn Cole as Michael Gray, Natasha O’Keeffe as Lizzie Shelby, Packy Lee as Johnny Dogs, Kate Phillips as Linda Shelby, Ian Peck as Curly, Anya Taylor-Joy as Gina Gray, Sam Claflin as Sir Oswald Mosley, Charlie Murphy as Jessie Eden, and James Frecheville as Jack Nelson, among many others.
Where to watch Peaky Blinders
All six seasons of Peaky Blinders are exclusively streaming on Netflix in the United States. You can also rent or buy episodes of the show’s first five seasons on Amazon Instant Video and AppleTV.