Summary
- Netflix has released the first official look at Jamie Bell playing an older, more dangerous version of Tommy Shelby’s son, Duke, in the upcoming Peaky Blinders sequel series
- The 1950s-set continuation marks the second time the character has been recast, following previous portrayals by Conrad Khan and Barry Keoghan
- The new Netflix and BBC project is currently filming in Birmingham and will also feature Charlie Heaton, Jessica Brown Findlay, and Lashana Lynch
By order of the Peaky Blinders, a new leading man has stepped up to the plate. Netflix has officially released the first look at Jamie Bell starring as Erasmus “Duke” Shelby in the highly anticipated sequel series. The upcoming drama marks a bold new era for the beloved crime franchise, shifting the timeline forward into the post-war 1950s following the events of the recent hit feature film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.
Bell’s casting as Tommy Shelby’s illegitimate son and heir marks a surprising trend for the character, representing the second time the role has been recast in just four years. Duke was originally introduced in the sixth and final season of the original BBC series played by Conrad Khan, before Saltburn star Barry Keoghan took over the role for the recent World War II-set movie. The decision to recast the character once again heavily stems from the sequel series’ massive decade-long time jump, requiring an older, more seasoned actor to lead the next generation of the Shelby empire.
According to the official logline, the new series will follow the race to rebuild a post-war Birmingham—a brutal contest of mythical dimensions filled with unprecedented opportunity and jeopardy. At the blood-soaked heart of this rebuilding city is Duke Shelby, who is now described as “older, wiser, more ambitious, and most certainly more dangerous.”
“I am thrilled that we are announcing a new era of Peaky Blinders, moving the story to post-war Birmingham in the early ’50s,” stated series creator and writer Steven Knight. “We are incredibly fortunate to have Jamie Bell taking the role of Tommy Shelby’s oldest son, Duke, and to have the incredible Charlie Heaton also leading the cast. There are more exciting cast announcements to come, and Peaky is on the road again.” Joining Bell to usher in this brutal new chapter is Stranger Things alum Charlie Heaton, who is expected to play a major leading role, though specific details remain strictly under wraps. The robust ensemble cast will also feature Jessica Brown Findlay, Lashana Lynch, and newcomer Lucy Karczewski making her television debut.
Filming for the massive sequel series—which has already received an order for two six-episode seasons—is currently underway in and around Digbeth Loc. Studios in Birmingham, England. While an official premiere date has not yet been set, the Peaky Blinders sequel series will eventually debut globally on Netflix, as well as on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.
