“Peaky Blinders” will end after its sixth and final season, but creator and writer Steven Knight have promised the narrative will “continue in a another form.”
Hugely popular overseas, the show follows the story of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his infamous family’s rise to power against the background of the working class, post-WWI Birmingham. BBC affirmed the show’s terminus on Monday when declaring that it had resumed production from the U.K. under rigorous COVID guidelines.
The season 6 end is something of a surprise awarded Knight previously told Entertainment Weekly in 2019 which “Peaky Blinders” would live to see 7. But a year’s delay in production due to the pandemic is very likely to have accelerated plans to wrap with season 6, which will air in late 2021 or even early 2022 depending on how quickly production can complete filming amid the U.K.’s continuing virus crisis.
Knight said in a statement on Monday: ‘Peaky’ is back and with a bang. After the enforced production delay because of the Covid pandemic, we locate that the family in extreme danger and the stakes have never been greater. We think this will be the best series of all and so are sure our amazing fans will adore it. Even though the TV series will soon be coming to an end, the story will continue in a different form.”
It is not yet clear what is in store for “Peaky” 2.0, but it’s likely the inventive team is thinking about a movie or spin-off show.
Executive producer Caryn Mandabach said: “Along with our lovely, supportive partners at BBC and Netflix, we’ve been working diligently to make sure we can get peaky back into production; the protection of our cast and crew is always our priority. Thank you to all of the peaky fans who have been unwaveringly supportive and individual. Steve’s scripts have been amazing and indicate the conclusion of an epic story that has entranced audiences since it first started in 2013, but the entire world of ‘Peaky Blinders’ will most definitely live on.”
Season 6 is composed by Knight, while season 5 helmer Anthony Byrne returns to guide and Nick Goding will create.
“Peaky Blinders” first aired on BBC Two in 2013 and has grown to become one of the public broadcaster’s main hits overseas. This made the transition to flagship channel BBC One for year 5 at 2019, also is available across the globe on Netflix.
Executive producers include Mandabach, Knight, Byrne, Jamie Glazebrook, David Mason and Cillian Murphy. Tommy Bulfin is executive producer for the BBC and Lucy Bedford is executive producer for Banijay-owned Tiger Aspect. “Peaky Blinders,” from Caryn Mandabach Productions, is co-produced with Tiger Aspect Productions and distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.
The program’s ending will almost certainly pose questions for distributor Banijay Rights, for whom “Peaky Blinders” is the crown jewel in an extensive scripted portfolio.