Published Feb 19, 2026, 12:56 PM EST
After joining Screen Rant in January 2025, Guy became a Senior Features Writer in March of the same year, and now specializes in features about classic TV shows. With several years' experience writing for and editing TV, film and music publications, his areas of expertise include a wide range of genres, from comedies, animated series, and crime dramas, to Westerns and political thrillers.
Peaky Blinders is returning to the screen on March 6, 2026, with its debut theatrical release The Immortal Man. Alongside the familiar face of Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby, Barry Keoghan will feature in the movie in a role which kept a closely guarded secret until today.
We now know from The Immortal Man’s newly released trailer that Keoghan will be playing Tommy’s estranged son, Duke Shelby. This piece of casting marks a dramatic departure from season 6 of Peaky Blinders, which saw Conrad Khan portraying Duke when he first appeared on the scene.
Although Duke is positioned on the fringes of the Shelby family tree, owing to his longtime estrangement from Tommy, he demonstrates the potential to play a leading role in his father’s criminal organization as the TV series builds to a climax. Barry Keoghan’s appearance in the trailer for the Peaky Blinders movie shows Duke very much fulfilling his potential.
Barry Keoghan Plays Tommy Shelby's Son Duke In Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
While we already knew that Barry Keoghan had a surprise for us in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, the revelation that Keoghan is playing Duke Shelby still comes as a shock. Given that Duke was already portrayed by another adult actor around Keoghan’s age in Peaky Blinders season 6, it was natural to assume he’d be playing a different part.
The Peaky Blinders movie needs to give Duke his showdown with Finn Shelby, following their near-fatal confrontation in the series finale, but its trailer suggests Duke’s father Tommy is the one should be most wary of. The two of them appear to face off when Tommy returns to Small Heath, as he bangs a desk in anger at his son.
Duke Shelby Has Taken Over The Peaky Blinders In The Movie
Tommy’s clash with his son results from the reign of terror that Duke has apparently reintroduced to Small Heath in his father’s absence. As Ada Shelby puts it during the movie trailer, “Your gypsy son is running the Peaky Blinders like it’s 1919 all over again.” Duke has completely taken over Tommy’s gang and his former territory.
This scenario makes Barry Keoghan Cillian Murphy’s successor at the head of the franchise’s titular crime organization. We already got a sense that Keoghan would be playing this role from a first-look image of his character in The Immortal Man. However, the fact he’s playing Tommy’s son raises the stakes even higher.
What Barry Keoghan's Role Means For The Peaky Blinders Franchise
Barry Keoghan’s new role as the boss of the Peaky Blinders implies that he could have a major role in the franchise going forward. We know that The Immortal Man should be the last we see of Tommy Shelby, one way or another, so it makes sense that Duke should take his place on a more permanent basis.
There’s a distinct possibility that Keoghan could front the Peaky Blinders sequel Netflix is currently developing with Steven Knight, which has only increased with the release of The Immortal Man’s trailer. Yet, we shouldn’t assume that Duke Shelby will necessarily survive what happens to him in the movie.
Just as Tommy’s life could be coming to an end in The Immortal Man, his son seems to be placing himself in grave danger, too, according to what the trailer shows us. Keoghan’s character is seen allying himself with a fascist leader played by Tim Roth, before his confrontation with Tommy.
Once again, Peaky Blinders has us in its grip. March 6 will tell us what’s coming next.
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