Is Barry Keoghan stepping in as Tommy Shelby’s son? Reports suggest he leads the next Peaky Blinders era after Cillian Murphy, fans say 'this is peak'

Nillohit Bagchi | Dec 12, 2025, 22:19 IST

( Image credit : X/@Peakyupdates | Barry Keoghan is stepping into the Peaky Blinders world as reports suggest he may play Tommy Shelby’s son )

Barry Keoghan is stepping into the Peaky Blinders world as rumours suggest he may play Tommy Shelby’s son.

World War II smoke settles over Birmingham again, but this time the Shelby legacy may be changing hands. New reports suggest Barry Keoghan is stepping in as the face of the next generation in the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie, and fans are buzzing over one question: is he playing Tommy Shelby’s son?

The rumours explode after Empire Magazine dropped a striking first look that shows Keoghan in full Peaky style, sharp eyes and sharper energy. It feels like a passing of the torch, a shift that could reshape the entire franchise. Some fans are thrilled. Some are nervous. Everyone is talking.

Barry Keoghan steps into the Peaky world as a new leader

The early look shows Keoghan walking through a snowy Birmingham street with a group of young fighters behind him. The vibe is raw. The energy is different. It feels like someone new is in charge now, and fans cannot stop staring at that still image.

( Image credit : X/@PopBase | The early look shows Keoghan walking through a snowy Birmingham street )

Empire’s report hints that Keoghan is not just another character. He could be the one who takes Tommy’s story forward. Some insiders even whisper he may be Tommy Shelby’s son, raised in the shadows and pulled into the war-filled streets at the worst possible time. One reaction summed up the hype perfectly: “Barry Keoghan leading the next Peaky era? Those eyes scream by order of the Peaky Blinders.”

Barry Keoghan plays the leader of a new generation of Peaky Blinders in the ‘PEAKY BLINDERS’ movie.

Releasing March 20 on Netflix.

(Source: https://t.co/3EQcNXhp2k) pic.twitter.com/VGaA4Ouz9E

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 12, 2025

Is he playing Tommy Shelby’s son? Fans believe it

Nothing is confirmed, but the clues have fans convinced. Cillian Murphy recently said The Immortal Man is “Tommy’s final chapter,” and Steven Knight teased that a new generation rises in the film. The timing lines up. The look lines up. Keoghan’s age lines up. And his character Duke Erasmus Shelby’s confidence feels very Barry-coded.

( Image credit : X/@peakyupdates | Nothing is confirmed, but the clues have fans convinced )

One fan wrote: “If Barry is playing Tommy’s son, that is cinema. The chaos and charm match too well.” Another added: “This feels like the perfect way to continue the Shelbys without forcing Tommy back into it.” Whether it is true or not, the speculation alone has reignited the Peaky Blinders fandom.

When the call for The Immortal Man came, it was from Cillian Murphy himself – who spilled the beans on exactly who he wanted Barry Koeghan to play. “I said, ‘Of course, bro. At the drop of a hat,’” he recalls. “I was like, ‘Freakin’ yeah. Anything to work with yourself again.’”… pic.twitter.com/Sb6ClmQOKq

— michi³⁰ᴵ⁰⁷ (@gofckapineapple) December 12, 2025

Fans react to Barry Keoghan becoming the next Peaky leader

Reactions on X show a mix of excitement, nerves, and pure chaos, exactly what you expect when a new Shelby might be crowned. @Adarshkumar_05 said on X, “Barry Keoghan as the new Peaky leader? I’m seated. This is wild.” Another user said, “The Shelby bloodline continues and Barry looks ready. By order of the Peakys.”

Peaky Blinders with Barry Keoghan? Yeah somebody’s dying in the first 10 minutes 😭

— Calvin | Kiwi (@Kiwiuh) December 12, 2025

Barry stepping in as the new Shelby… looks like the Peaky legacy is about to get a fresh, darker edge. March can’t come soon enough......

— 𝓣𝟒𝟗 (@T49XBee) December 12, 2025

One Reddit user said, “Barry has that unhinged genius energy. This could work. Or it could explode. Either way, I’m watching.” Almost every reaction agrees on one thing: Keoghan has the eyes of a man who would pull a razor from his cap without blinking.

What does this mean for Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders?

Cillian Murphy confirmed this film is his final ride as Tommy Shelby. Fans already cried about it online. But the introduction of Keoghan softens the sting. It gives the universe a future. A new face. A new fight.

( Image credit : X/@peakyyupdates | Reactions on X show a mix of excitement, nerves, and pure chaos )

Steven Knight once said: “You know when you look at an actor and think… there’s the future.” Many believe he was talking about Barry. If the film truly bridges the old Peaky world with the new, then Keoghan might be the one carrying Tommy’s shadow into the next era.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortan Man release and what to expect

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man hits limited theatres on March 6, 2026, and drops globally on Netflix on March 20, 2026.

The story moves into the Second World War, where new enemies rise, new alliances break, and the empire is forced to evolve or die. One fan said: “The ‘40s vibe mixed with a new Shelby? Knife-sharp drama incoming.”