If Birmingham had a king, it would be Tommy Shelby. When we first meet the gang leader in the series, he’s heading up Peaky Blinders’ business affairs, from their illegal horse betting schemes to a hooch-smuggling operation. 

Battling significant trauma from his time fighting in WWI, Tommy is plagued by a self-professed “broken” heart and finds solace in his love of horses. His daughter Ruby (Heaven-Leigh Clee) died of tuberculosis, and the love of his life, Grace (Annabelle Wallis), was killed by a bullet meant for him.

When we’re reunited with Tommy in the film sequel, he’s isolated himself from the world and largely cut off contact with the Peaky Blinders. As Murphy puts it, “He’s living in this purgatory that he’s created for himself in this big old house, he’s not really living, he’s not really dead.”

Oppenheimer, A Quiet Place Part II

The twin of Tommy’s late lover Zelda, Kaulo floats onto the scene with mysterious intentions and mystical powers — including the ability to channel her dead sister. She’s “airy” and “earthy,” as Ferguson puts it, but has a razor-sharp eye on the future of Duke (Barry Keoghan), Tommy’s son. 

“My character’s come in to kind of persuade Cillian’s character to break into the world again from isolation, and to take control and to help guide his son,” Ferguson explains. 

Dune film series

A Nazi sympathizer and violent scam artist, Beckett is working with Hitler to distribute fake pounds in an effort to crash Britain’s economy. Based on a real-life historical event, Operation Bernhard, the counterfeit scheme involved forcing concentration-camp prisoners to print millions of phony bank notes. 

“Fascism comes at you in many disguises, as we know,” notes Roth, who decided to play his character with a “relaxed quality,” which masks a deeply evil interior.

Reservoir Dogs, The Hateful Eight

The only sister of the Shelby clan, Ada is a fierce supporter of the working class and their rights. When we’re reunited with her in the film sequel, her morals are firmly intact as she takes on her nephew Duke and his illegal, violent dealings. 

She’s also attempting to pull Tommy out of his stupor and bring him back to Birmingham to deal with Duke. “I think Ada is searching for that flicker of him, if he’s still in there, and she’s really reaching for him,” Rundle says. “There’s moments where she nearly gets to him and then he kind of disappears again.”

After the Flood, Gentleman Jack

The heir apparent to his father, Duke rules with an iron fist. He’s gotten himself involved in dirty dealings with Beckett and faces a moral quandary when Tommy returns to town to set him straight. 

Despite his steely, tough exterior, Duke has “childlike” moments with his estranged father, Keoghan notes, and is trying to figure out “where he belongs in the world, [the] kind of battle we all have as young lads.” 

The Banshees of Inisherin, Saltburn

Charlie — affectionately known as Uncle Charlie — is the nonbiological kin of the Shelby clan. He’s a beloved and loyal member of the Peaky Blinders, who goes to bat for Tommy whenever he needs it. 

Culprits, The Peripheral

A longtime friend of Tommy’s, Johnny is known for helping his pal out of sticky (and often bloody) situations. He remains just as staunchly loyal in the film, putting up with Tommy’s hermitlike existence and — once again — stepping into the battlefield when called. 

To get back into character, Lee rewatched old Peaky Blinders episodes and turned a keen eye to Johnny’s stature, which included plenty of slouching. “I’ve always tried to create the character with as much physicality as possible,” Lee says. “I like to think I’m more of a character actor than anything.”

Blue Lights

A close ally to the Peaky Blinders, Curly works as a stable boy and has been dubbed the best horseman in England. 

His Dark Materials, Robin Hood

Duke’s second-in-command, Elijah helps run the Peaky Blinders and assists in their various dangerous dealings. He supports his friend throughout it all and goes on his own journey of moral reckoning when Tommy arrives.

Half Bad: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself

Hayden Stagg did what seemed impossible. The trade union official, who once stole from the Shelbys, managed to transition his role of adversary to a valued, trusted member of the Peaky Blinders clan. 

He’s back to help Tommy with his latest mission, which involves taking down the Nazis, their sympathizers, and the largest counterfeit scheme in history. For Graham, it was a “privilege” to return to the Peaky universe. “The biggest thing is — I was a massive fan of the show, so to be asked to be in it was huge,” he says.

A Thousand Blows, Boiling Point