The Peaky Blinders maybe be returning for a sixth season sooner than originally anticipated. The latest update to the release date comes from Paul Anderson, who plays Arthur Shelby in the British crime drama series. It will be interesting to see what the new season holds after Season 5’s sombre and ghastly ending.
Peaky Blinders follows the tracks of Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) who leads a criminal gang called the Peaky Blinders in Birmingham. The series takes place after world war one and focuses on the rise of the Shelby crime family. In Season 5, Thomas Shelby becomes the deputy leader of the British Union of Fascists.
The Peaky Blinders actor Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby Jr) took to Instagram to drop a new tease about the next season. On November 8, Anderson shared an illustration of his character with the caption: Season 6 #comingfknsoon 🖤. “Thanking you all for the wait, it will be worth it 💯🙏🐼.”
Season 5 of the hit drama series premiered on BBC One on 25th August 2019 and was met with mixed reactions from fans. The sustained six-episode run of the season ended on a gripping cliffhanger with Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) holding a gun to his head.
The formulaic narrative of the show still manages to keep itself fresh by introducing new players to the chessboard and swagger persona of the characters. We also see the return of Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy) who survives a bullet from Tommy.
What’s happening with Season 6?
Peaky Blinders Season 6 was all set to begin filming in March. But you can blame the hellhole year 2020 because productions for the series was postponed due to the pandemic. It was initially believed that season six would release in late 2021 or even early 2022. But perhaps the series will return sooner – By Order of the Peaky Blinders.
Anthony Byrne, the director of Season 5 and 6 of Peaky Blinders had posted his disappointment of the postponement on his Instagram handle.
“We were so close to the start of filming Season 6. Months of hard work by our very talented, dedicated and hardworking crew. Sets were built, costumes were made. Cameras and lenses tested. Locations were booked. All the prep was done. It’s a real shame not to be able to make it for you at this time.”
Byrne added that “These are extraordinary times and we must be extraordinary in them.”
However in July, with the relaxations of lockdowns in the UK, Peaky Blinders among other popular British shows were permitted to resume filming.
What is the plot of Peaky Blinders Season 6?
The Season 5 finale saw fascist leader Oswald Mosely surviving a failed assassination attempt by Thomas Shelby. Someone had betrayed Tommy – was it Billy Grade? Johnny Dogs? Or Michael and Gina? We will have to wait for the next season to find out.
The new season will also introduce Gina’s family and the people surrounding Oswald Mosley. After Michael Gray failed to take over Shelby Company Ltd, it does seem that the series is pitching Polly Shelby’s son as the antagonist in the upcoming season.
Earlier in January, Anthony Byrne posted an image of the production script on Instagram. The image confirms that the opening episode of Season 6 will be titled “Black Day’. The director also teased that a new mysterious female character will give Thomas Shelby a run for his money.
Who is the cast?
Rumours that Mr Bean actor, Rowan Atkinson will be playing Adolf Hitler in the new season were making rounds on social media. However, that rumour was shot down by the makers of Peaky Blinders, who stated that this was indeed fake news.
Every character that survived the season finale (RIP Aberama Gold) will return to Peaky Blinders season 6. Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy), Arthur Shelby Jr (Paul Anderson), Michael Gray (Finn Cole) Ada Thorne (Sophie Rundle) and Polly Gray (Helen McCrory) will all return to the show.
Anya Taylor-Joy and Sam Claflin will also reprise their characters of Gina Gray and Oswald Mosley respectively.
Will Season 6 be the last instalment?
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight stated that the series was originally supposed to wrap up with season 5. But given the rising popularity of the historical crime drama show, it was renewed for a sixth season.
Knight even went on say that Peaky Blinders may see a seventh season and possibly even a film. The film could take place during the events of the Second World War. Steven Knight has also expressed that he would like to end the series ” with the first air raid siren in Birmingham in 1939.”
The previous seasons of Peaky Blinders are available for streaming on Netflix and BBC iPlayer.