Peaky Blinders film script 'nearly done'

The script for the ‘Peaky Blinders’ film is "nearly done".

Steven Knight, the creator of the BBC drama about an organised crime family from Birmingham in the early 20th century, has revealed he is still writing the big screen adaptation of the popular TV series, which starred Cillian Murphy and the late Helen McCrory, and it will be filmed in Digbeth, Birmingham.

After being asked on ‘Heart Breakfast With Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden’ about rumours of a 'Peaky' movie by Zoe Hardman - who was standing in for Amanda - the 62-year-old showrunner said: “Yes, I can tell you that there's going to be a film, a feature film.

“Yes, I'm writing it right now. I mean, I'm nearly done writing it, and we're going to shoot it ... I’m setting up some film and television studios in Digbeth in Birmingham,” before being interrupted by a telephone ringing.

Jamie quipped: "Oh, that's your agent telling you to stop right there, no more details!"

Steven replied with details about bringing the production to its real home.

He said: "Yes, don't tell them any more! Please! On FaceTime, gesturing! Erm, we’re going to shoot it at the studios in Digbeth, and on location in Digbeth in Birmingham. Digbeth and Small Heath is where the Peaky Blinders actually roamed. So it's like Peaky’s coming home, basically.”

Steven revealed shooting could begin “within 18 months” and praised the “social community” of fans of the show.

He said: “Well, I'm hoping that we'll be shooting in … within 18 months. And then obviously, we put it together. Erm, I don't know, I mean it will depend on the distributors and things when it goes out. But I'm just really looking forward to having a Peaky event where people can watch it communally. I mean, the social media community is so strong and people talk to each other. But to actually be together physically will be really interesting.”

Steven also teased that fan favourites and "new" and "surprising" talent will appear in the period flick.

He told Jamie: "Of course, and some new faces that will hopefully be quite surprising."

'Peaky Blinders’ - a global smash hit that ran for 36 episodes over six seasons between 2013 and this year- has long been teased as prime for the motion picture treatment for a little while.

In January 2021, Steven spoke about a film being “in development”, admitting he had a “fully formed idea”.

He said: “We are in development. It’s a fully formed idea and it has a beginning, middle and end. And I think it’s going to be a fitting conclusion to the story told so far, but from it, there will be things I don’t really call spinoffs, but there will be other TV shows that I hope will come out of [it], that will continue to tell the story of this part of society and this family.”

Listen to Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden weekdays from 6:30am - 10am.