Knight Confirms ‘Peaky Blinders’ Will Extend Beyond Film Medium

PA Barry Keoghan (left) and Cillian Murphy are seen together in the upcoming Peaky Blinders film. Creator Steven Knight has revealed that the series will continue beyond the upcoming film, sparking speculation about a potential new series.

In an interview with BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Knight praised the work done so far on the movie, describing it as “fantastic” and stating that it will serve as “a very fitting way to end this part of the Peaky story.” When asked by presenters Jon Kay and Sarah Campbell what he meant by “this part,” Knight responded with a cryptic statement: “It’s not over, let’s just put it like that. I’m not allowed to announce it… but I’m just saying that the world of Peaky will continue.”

Knight was appearing on BBC Breakfast to promote his new Disney+ period drama A Thousand Blows, which stars Stephen Graham as notorious boxer Sugar Goodson in 1880s Victorian London.

“I think we’ve got the best British actors all in one place, including Stephen,” Knight remarked. “The stuff that I’m watching, the rushes… no-one will be disappointed. It is quite an incredible thing.”

Steven Knight has been behind several hit series throughout his career, including BBC dramas SAS Rogue Heroes, Taboo, and This Town. He was also involved in co-creating the ITV game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.

In a recent interview on Radio 4’s Today programme, Knight described himself as a “BBC loyalist,” despite his new period drama launching on Disney+. Speaking about the production of A Thousand Blows, he commented:

“Peaky is a BBC show and there was no issue with making that at the BBC. I’m a huge BBC loyalist, as you know…I love to work with the BBC creatively. There’s no place like it.” He also mentioned: “The real struggle, I suppose, in A Thousand Blows, is about east versus west.”

His new drama A Thousand Blows, based on a combination of true stories and Knights imagination, explores themes such as class inequality through the lives of two friends from Jamaica who find themselves navigating London’s brutal bare-knuckle boxing scene in Victorian times.

In a review for The Telegraph, Benji Wilson praised A Thousand Blows, calling it “blockbusting television” and suggesting that Knight has created his best work yet. Other critics also rated the show highly, with Adam Bloodworth from The Standard giving it four stars and praising its performances as well as gritty plotlines.

The upcoming Peaky Blinders film will continue to feature Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy alongside an ensemble cast including Stephen Graham, Sophie Rundle, Ned Dennehy, Packy Lee, Ian Peck; as well as Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Jay Lycurgo, and Barry Keoghan.