Production is currently underway in Birmingham for the upcoming Peaky Blinders continuation, as the BBC and Netflix confirm the expansion of the franchise into a new era. Official imagery reveals Charlie Heaton (known for Stranger Things) cast as Charles Shelby, marking his debut in the series following the events of the recently released film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.
The series is set a decade after World War II, shifting the narrative focus to the post-war industrial reconstruction of Birmingham, described by creator Steven Knight as a "brutal contest of mythical dimensions."
The New Order
The project aims to center on the next generation of the Shelby crime family. While plot specifics remain guarded, the casting signals a definitive generational hand-off:
Lead Cast: Charlie Heaton (Charles Shelby) and Jamie Bell (Duke Shelby), who replaces previous portrayals in the role.
Supporting Cast: The ensemble includes Lashana Lynch, Jessica Brown Findlay, and Lucy Karczewski.
Release Scope: The production will consist of two six-episode seasons, distributed via BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, with global distribution handled by Netflix.
Production Context
Filming is presently localized at Digbeth Loc Studios. The narrative trajectory moves forward from the conclusion of the previous film, where the character of Tommy Shelby faced an end-of-life decision involving his son, Duke. Charles Shelby, previously seen briefly during his father’s funeral and his subsequent departure for London, returns to a Birmingham transformed by wartime bombing and emerging into a period of industrial upheaval.
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"This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and jeopardy," the production notes state, framing the 1950s setting as a departure from the interwar period of the original series.
Industry Trajectory
The casting of Charlie Heaton serves as a strategic pivot for the franchise, leveraging his previous five-season tenure with Netflix to anchor a younger ensemble. For the network, this serves as an attempt to maintain the commercial momentum of a long-running property that has historically relied on the established gravity of Cillian Murphy’s central performance. As the show moves into its post-war setting, it replaces the established criminal hierarchy of the 1920s and 30s with a fresh set of faces, attempting to modernize the brand while retaining its established visual identity of "concrete and steel."
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