Barry Keoghan is playing Tommy Shelby's son in Peaky Blinders film and character actually appeared in show
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man looks set to bring the story of Tommy Shelby to a close, with Cillian Murphy returning for the film co-produced by Netflix.
Though Arthur Shelby actor Paul Anderson is not looking like he will return in the film after becoming embroiled in legal troubles, the role of Barry Keoghan in the film has been kept under wraps until today.
Keoghan was confirmed in today’s trailer to be playing Duke Shelby, the illegitimate son of Tommy Shelby.
With it having been four years since season six of the TV show came out, many fans will likely need a refresher on what on earth is going on – because Barry Keoghan’s character has actually appeared in Peaky Blinders before.
Who is Duke Shelby, Tommy’s son who will be played by Barry Keoghan
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Duke Shelby was introduced in the sixth season of the show, previously played by Conrad Khan.
After the death of Tommy’s daughter he meets with his widowed sister-in-law Esme who tells him ‘the Lord gives, the Lord takes away’ before she introduced him to his son.
Duke was born after Tommy slept with a Romani girl Zelda, with her giving birth after he was sent away to fight in WW1.
Towards the latter half of the season Duke looks set to take over the Peaky Blinders, being the one to banish Finn Shelby from the gang and the family.
Before Tommy leaves he whispers something in his son’s ear, with many assuming it was instructions to take over the Peaky Blinders.
What do we know about Duke Shelby in the Peaky Blinders film?
The trailer sets up Duke as the new leader of the gang, with Ada informing Tommy that his son is running the Blinders ‘like its 1919’.
Speaking to Empire about his part in the film, Barry Keoghan said: “I always wanted to be part of it, and I feel like this was the perfect moment, in the sense of who I play and the story that unfolds. It couldn’t be any more perfect casting.”
The Irish actor said that him and Cillian Murphy had stayed in touch after both appearing in Dunkirk and that Murphy had called him one day with Keoghan saying: “[Murphy] goes, by the way, would you want to play my son in Peaky Blinders?
“At the drop of a hat, I was like, feckin’ yeah, anything to work with yourself again, and to become part of that universe and that world.”
He stated that the character is ‘troubled’ when he meet him, adding: “That’s a boy, just looking for his father.
“Being a father myself, I really did relate to Duke, because there’s this cry for his father and this cry for the figure that he needs to be there.”
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man releases in cinemas March 6.
Topics: Peaky Blinders, Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Netflix, Film, TV and Film
Michael Slavin