First look at Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton in new Peaky Blinders spin-off series
If you've been struggling to picture what Charlie Heaton might look like in Peaky Blinders, you'll be glad to hear your prayers have been answered.
Fans are used to seeing the Leeds-born actor sporting a shaggy hairdo and flannel shirts while playing Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things, but he looks a lot sharper in character as Charles Shelby.
On Friday (22 May), the BBC gave fans a sneak peek of what to expect from Heaton in Steven Knight's upcoming spin-off series.
Back in March, longtime viewers said a sad farewell to Peaky Blinders protagonist Cillian Murphy after an incredible 13 years of him playing Tommy Shelby.
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In true Shelby style, the Irish star went out in a blaze of glory - and he's now passing the baton onto the next generation.
The mastermind behind the hit series, screenwriter Steven Knight, isn't leaving fans high and dry - as he's got two new series that are currently in the works.
Set in the 1950s, this spin-off picks up ten years after the events that took place in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. In April, it was announced that Rocket Man actor Jamie Bell and Stranger Things star Heaton will be at the helm of it.
Bell is taking over from Barry Keoghan and will play Tommy's illegitimate son Duke Shelby, while Heaton will portray his more sophisticated half-sibling Charles Shelby.
In a first-look picture released by the Beeb, Heaton is seen sporting a suave suit and a haircut his fictional father would be proud of.
The broadcaster also shared some further details about what is in store for his character, revealing that his story ties into the subtle storyline Charles had in The Immortal Man.
Tommy's youngest son got a brief mention in the movie and fans found out he was in North Africa, fighting in World War One.
In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, he then briefly appears at the end of The Immortal Man to attend Tommy's tear-inducing funeral, while sporting his army uniform.
Filming for the spin-off series is currently underway in Birmingham - and the 12 episodes will eventually debut on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and on Netflix across the rest of the world.
So, what can we expect to see Heaton get up to in the Peaky Blinders universe?
The synopsis from the BBC explains: "Having fought a violent war, much of it behind enemy lines, Charles Shelby is now embracing normality.
"He hasn’t seen his half-brother Duke in years. Charles severed all ties to the Peaky Blinders gang, and the hedonistic Shelby lifestyle. But can you ever escape your own blood?
"In this new era of Peaky Blinders, set a decade after World War Two, the race to rebuild Birmingham becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions. This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and jeopardy."
Stars including Silo's Jessica Brown Findlay, No Time to Die actress Lashana Lynch and Stereophonic star Lucy Karczewski have also been cast in the spin-off, although details of their roles are being kept under wraps for now.
Interestingly, Heaton hinted that he was quite the Peaky Blinders fan during a 2022 interview with GQ, as he revealed that he introduced his Stranger Things co-star Eduardo Franco to the popular series.
The father-of-one, 32, explained that they forged a 'bromance' in between scenes by playing Nintendo - while Heaton also 'introduced Franco to Peaky Blinders as well as the concept of putting milk in tea'.
Speaking of his excitement for Heaton to join the Peaky Blinders clan, Knight previously said he was 'thrilled' to have him and Bell on board.
"We are incredibly fortunate to have Jamie Bell taking the role of Tommy Shelby's oldest son, Duke, and to have Charlie Heaton also leading the cast," he said.
"There are more exciting cast announcements to come, and Peaky is on the road again."
Topics: BBC, Peaky Blinders, Netflix, TV and Film
Olivia Burke