Why won’t there be a Peaky Blinders season 7? Steven Knight explains

The episode saw plenty of twists for the cursed Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his associates, bringing some threads to an end while setting up more for the big screen adaptation.

Season 6 of the BBC gangster drama was the most personal yet, focusing squarely on Tommy's demons as he dealt with heavy losses, political manoeuvring and his own tortured mind.

There was much talk about the fates of certain character going into the finale - although some of the Peaky Blinders cast would have signed on for the sequel movie, we were still worried for our favourites' fates given the show's particularly brutal past.

Creator Steven Knight had previously confirmed a seventh season of the drama was planned, but the course changed through production of the sixth. So just why has Peaky Blinders changed course?

Why won’t there be a Peaky Blinders season 7?

Well, there are a number of reasons why plans for Peaky Blinders season 7 were cancelled.

One of the biggest reasons was because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Appearing on BBC News in early 2021, Steven Knight revealed: "The original intention was to do seven series, but COVID has stolen a year from us, and we felt what would be a great idea is to, almost in place of that seventh series, is to go onto the big screen."

He later revealed to the BBC ahead of the release of season 6 that the pandemic combined with the tragic death of beloved actress Helen McCrory, who played Polly Gray in the series, caused plans for the feature film to be accelerated.

“The reason is boringly practical which is that we lost a year due to the pandemic," Knight revealed. "The way these things are scheduled – it’s like turning an oil tanker around.”

He added: "We just felt, also with the loss of Helen [McCrory], that it all seemed to be pointing towards doing what I'm calling ‘the end of the beginning'.

“Let’s end the beginning, then let's do the film. And then let's see where we go in terms of spin-offs."

How will Peaky Blinders continue?

First and foremost, Peaky Blinders is set to continue with the Peaky Blinders movie.

So while there won’t be a seventh run of the central Peaky Blinders show, we will be getting a feature film and potentially spin-off series.

Production is set to begin on the film in the coming months, with Cillian Murphy and Paul Anderson believed to be reprising their roles as Tommy and Arthur Shelby, respectively.

Knight has also hinted that Stephen Graham could reprise his role as Hayden Stagg in the future of the franchise.

Speaking to Metro, Knight said of Graham’s performance: “It’s been brilliant, and I want to keep him as part of it, going forward.”

Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Knight said: "I know what's going to happen in those stories and it's about a sort of untold story that happened in the Second World War, which Peakys are going to be involved in."

So, rest assured Peaky Blinders fans, this is not the end!

• Read More: Peaky Blinders director responds to season 6 criticism: "It has to evolve"
• Read more: Who is Duke Shelby in Peaky Blinders? Actor and character details explained
• Read More: Who is Diana Mitford in Peaky Blinders season 6?
• Read More: Peaky Blinders’ Captain Swing explained: Why did she kill Polly?
• Read More: Peaky Blinders' Amber Anderson says viewers will be "quite shocked" by what’s in store
• Read More: When is Peaky Blinders season 6 released on Netflix?

Peaky Blinders seasons 1 to 6 are available now on BBC iPlayer, with seasons 1 to 5 available on Netflix.

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