Peaky Blinders’ “Epic” Movie Can Build On The Potential Of Christopher Nolan’s $530M Movie

It was recently announced that a popular Irish actor would be joining the cast of the Peaky Blinders movie, which means one collaboration from 2017 can finally make its comeback. Peaky Blinders originally ran as a television series from 2013 to 2022. The series followed Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby, the leader of a Birmingham mob in the early 1900s called the Peaky Blinders. Now, the popular series is getting its seventh season via a Peaky Blinders movie directed by showrunner, Steven Knight. While the movie was already an exciting endeavor, this recent casting makes it even greater.

Cillian Murphy will be reprising his role as Tommy Shelby, but alongside him will be Peaky Blinders newcomer, Barry Keoghan. Keoghan has risen to fame in recent years after appearing in projects such as The Killing of the Sacred Deer, Eternals, The Banshees of Inisherin, and Saltburn. Like Murphy, Keoghan has become one of the most notable Irish actors in recent years, so his addition to the Peaky Blinders cast is thrilling. This is especially true considering the history that Murphy and Keoghan share. Though it has been many years, the actors previously collaborated on another huge movie.

Cillian Murphy & Barry Keoghan Briefly United In Dunkirk

Murphy & Keoghan’s Dunkirk Roles Explained

In 2017, both Cillian Murphy and Barry Keoghan appeared in Christopher Nolan’s war drama, Dunkirk. The movie told the true story of the Dunkirk evacuation during World War II. Notably, Dunkirk boasted a massive star-studded cast like many other Nolan flicks. Murphy and Keoghan were just two of many pivotal actors who performed in the film, including Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Fionn Whitehead, and even Harry Styles. In this way, the Peaky Blinders movie will finally get to bring the Irish actors back together on an even bigger scale.

What is even greater about Murphy and Keoghan’s time on Dunkirk is that they actually shared the screen together. Dunkirk includes a number of different plotlines, and the actors appeared in the same one. Keoghan plays George Mills, a young man who helps manage a civilian boat. When Mills and the boat’s owner take the craft out onto the sea, they find a shellshocked soldier, played by Cillian Murphy. Murphy’s character even gets into a scuffle with Keoghan’s Mills, resulting in him getting a head injury that leaves him blind. All in all, their collaboration is brief but memorable.

The Peaky Blinders Movie Can Fully Deliver On The Potential Of Cillian Murphy & Barry Keoghan

How Murphy & Keoghan Can Interact In Peaky Blinders

Now that Barry Keoghan has joined the cast of the Peaky Blinders movie, he and Cillian Murphy can finally make the most of their collaboration. Murphy and Keoghan are both successful actors, but their specific talents make this pairing even better. Murphy has proven time and again that he can delve deep into serious roles. In many ways, Tommy Shelby is one of the most important roles of his career, so he will almost certainly give a great performance. Meanwhile, Keoghan’s brand of acting is incredibly intense and strange. His all-in dedication will match nicely with Murphy’s style.

At this point, it is unclear who Keoghan is playing in Peaky Blinders. However, considering his recent fame, it seems likely that he will take on a large part. Perhaps Keoghan will play the villain of the film as he has been apt to do in other films, i.e. Saltburn and The Batman. On the other hand, he could play a fellow mob boss who teams up with Tommy Shelby for whatever mission is at stake. Regardless, Keoghan and Murphy’s time on-screen together in the Peaky Blinders movie should be a perfect follow-up to their work on Dunkirk.

Barry Keoghan’s Casting Makes The Peaky Blinders Movie Even More Exciting

What Keoghan Brings To Peaky Blinders

The Peaky Blinders movie was always going to be a highly anticipated project simply because it is reviving the beloved show, but Barry Keoghan’s role in the film makes it even more exciting. In a recent interview, Keoghan noted that the Peaky Blinders movie is “going to be epic,” showing that even he is excited by the movie’s premise. On top of that, Keoghan brings an extra bit of A-list status to the project. His casting proves that this movie is not going to be a small, throwaway endeavor, but instead, will be a big-budget film that deserves the attention it gets.

In the end, Barry Keoghan will bring his tell-tale quirk and strangeness to the Peaky Blinders movie. Sort of like Tom Hardy’s Alfie Solomons, Keoghan will likely portray a unique individual who meshes well with Tommy Shelby’s skillful violence. Whether they are allies or enemies, Barry Keoghan and Cillian Murphy will make for an awesome duo in the Peaky Blinders movie.