Peaky Blinders Season 7 Is A Better Idea Than A Movie

The story of the Shelby family may be set to end with a movie, but Peaky Blinders season 7 would have been a more fitting conclusion to the crime family’s story. Creator Steven Knight always intended to tell how the Shelby family adjusted through the years between World War I and II with seven seasons, wrapping up with one final movie. However, the plan changed as problems arose because of the COVID-19 pandemic, making Peaky Blinders end with season 6 and one final movie. Production for the conclusive Peaky Blinders movie is set to begin in 2023.

Peaky Blinders season 6 took off after season 5’s foiled murder attempt of Sir Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin), who gained even more influence nationally and internationally in season 6. Tommy (Cillian Murphy) needed Mosley’s connections to secure a deal to export opium to the U.S. with Boston gangster Jack Nelson (James Frecheville), who in return wanted to get to know the fascists in a position of power in Europe, letting Mosley be of use for Tommy. Tommy and Mosley’s coalition, already weak considering the opposite political sides on which the two stood, clearly came to an end at the end of Peaky Blinders season 6, when Tommy realized his tuberculoma was faked by a doctor loyal to Mosley. Wanting Tommy dead, Mosley had the doctor convince Tommy he would die a horrible death, believing Tommy would kill himself before that.

Peaky Blinders season 6 managed to tie up many loose ends left from season 5, including finally the avenging of Aunt Polly (Helen McCrory) after her death was revealed in season 6, episode 1. Still, Peaky Blinders season 6 centered much more on Tommy and his story than his siblings, and many stories were only hinted at by season 6. As a result, they need to be expanded in a way a film isn’t able to, especially when there are already a couple of big storylines requiring conclusions. This is just one of the reasons why Peaky Blinders season 7 would be a better idea than a final movie.

Peaky Blinders’ Movie Can’t Offer A Satisfying End

The main reason a single movie wouldn’t be enough to cover the end of the Shelby family’s story is that many stories still need to be told. Not only did Peaky Blinders season 6 focus much less on Arthur (Paul Anderson) and Ava (Sophie Rundle), who have been central to the show, but it also introduced another Shelby to the family, Duke (Conrad Khan). Finn (Harry Kirton) was seemingly kicked out of the Peaky Blinders for choosing to protect Billy Grade (Emmett J. Scanlan) and going against his family’s wishes. Therefore, his story doesn’t necessarily need to be continued in the Peaky Blinders movie, but Arthur and Ava’s certainly do. Based on Tommy’s final speech to his family before going away in season 6, episode 6, Ava had his blessing to take Tommy’s place as the politician of the family. At the same time, Arthur is also still involved with the Peaky Blinders and will have to share his job with Duke, who was framed as the future of the family by Peaky Blinders season 6, episode 6.

Besides giving a fitting goodbye to the Shelby family and their story, the Peaky Blinders movie would need to focus on the Shelbys’ two main threats, Mosley on one side and Nelson and Gina Gray (Anya Taylor-Joy) on the other. Being developed since Peaky Blinders season 5, it’s highly likely the Peaky Blinders movie will see the showdown between the Shelbys and Mosley, not only because the entire family opposed Tommy’s alliance with him but also because he singlehandedly plotted Tommy’s demise. As they already wanted to take Tommy out as he is a threat, Jack Nelson and Gina Gray will probably take their revenge on him for killing Michael (Finn Cole). Tommy and the Shelbys will have to defend themselves from multiple threats all in a time frame much shorter than what they have gotten in previous Peaky Blinders seasons, making the Peaky Blinders movie not enough to tie up the loose ends of the Peaky Blinders TV series.

What Peaky Blinders’ Future Could Look Like

Steven Knight made it clear he will not remain attached to Peaky Blinders and will cede creative duties to others once the Shelby family’s story finally concludes. Still, the potential for spinoffs was already seen in Peaky Blinders seasons 5 and 6, which introduced Michael’s escapades in America. Considering how Peaky Blinders season 6 ended with the Shelbys having a profitable deal with Nelson’s crime family, it’s possible that a potential spinoff could be focused on Shelby Company Limited’s work in the U.S. Another option could be to continue the Shelbys’ story by following Duke. Duke was only introduced as a Shelby midway through Peaky Blinders season 6, effectively making him a younger Shelby inevitably connected to the family viewers got to know, but who is still detached enough from them to continue the family’s legacy. Whatever form Peaky Blinders will take in the future, though, it will dazzle its viewers like the TV show did for six seasons.