Joshua Gill looks forward to the third series of Peaky Blinders…
With Peaky Blinders returning to BBC2 in early 2016, the buzz surrounding Cillian Murphy’s reprisal of the Shelby name has risen with a number of press releases, interviews and advertisements. The show has publicised that there is to be an hour-long discussion surrounding the filming of season 3 at the Radio Times Festival somewhere between the 24th/27th September, whereby some of our questions will finally be answered. The last we saw of Thomas Shelby viewers were left stunned at the climactic near death escape, which saw our favourite ‘legitimate’ businessman climb from the dirt that was declared his grave by special agent Campbell. Since that fantastic end scene, Peaky Blinders‘ dedicated and committed fan base has been crying out for more of the same in season 3.
Since its premiere in 2013, the Stephen Knight created television series has commanded a fan base that continues to expand at home and abroad, with Netflix taking up both of its seasons during 2014. Its fan base has notably expanded both in conjunction to its availability, as well as the bigger celebrity names it adds to its roster season by season. With Tom Hardy entering season 2 as the new face of the London business partnership that connects itself to the Shelby expansion, the show’s gangster epic promises more from the Camden town Jewish gang leader, with Stephen Knight answering in an interview that:
“Yes Tom is coming back… I think it is a tribute to the show and the writing that it can attract the calibre of actor like Tom Hardy.”
Murphy continues stating that: “It was great to catch up with him and work with him again, he and I are pals of old and obviously he has worked closely with Steve Knight so it very much kept the family vibe of the show going. Hopefully in season 3 we will be introducing some new characters again through some exciting new actors.”
This answer, along with many other revealing facts about the lead up to season 3 came from an exclusive interview with Deadline, with Cillian Murphy himself promising more actors the calibre of Tom Hardy, carrying on the inertia that since season one has captivated our attention, inching us closer to the edge of our seat episode by episode. What we know to expect from the next season are answers and action that were foregrounded in season 2. The love interest between Thomas Shelby and Grace Burgess is to be explored further in the initial setup, the expansion of the Shelby name is rumoured to be expanded upon, and the idea of empire is carried through from the second season, allowing all of us to wonder whether the Birmingham gang will ever fully transgress their Gypsy origins, approaching the high culture of London they continue to aspire to.
Although a release date has yet to be announced, the series’ scripts have already been completed with filming set to occur in the next passing months, focusing on locations strictly in the Birmingham area to retain the Blinders authenticity that has remained throughout its production as a staple of its brilliance.
Joshua Gill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=-L-r5BIxypg
Originally published August 13, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
