Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man confirms Arthur Shelby’s shocking fate

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Paul Anderson had already shared that he didn’t return as Arthur Shelby in the Peaky Blinders movie, The Immortal Man, before it was released on Netflix. However, he kept the details of what happened to his character a secret.

The upcoming film takes place in 1940 and features Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) living in self-imposed exile. He’s forced to return when his son, Duke (Barry Keoghan), who has taken over leadership of the Peaky Blinders during his father’s absence, finds himself in trouble.

Ever wonder why Arthur isn’t around to support his family? We’re here to explain, whether you’ve already seen the movie and are puzzled, or you just want to know the story without watching it. Be warned: major spoilers ahead!

What happened to Arthur Shelby?

The new film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, quickly establishes that Arthur Shelby passed away in 1938—a few years before the events of the movie—through a scene showing Tommy placing Ruby’s scarf on Arthur’s grave.

Initially, the circumstances surrounding Arthur’s death were uncertain, with suggestions of suicide or an accidental killing by Tommy. However, it’s later revealed that Tommy intentionally killed Arthur during a heated argument, fueled by alcohol and anger.

Tommy reveals the truth while mourning Ada’s death, telling her he killed his brother because he desperately wanted to escape their complicated relationship – a brother he’d always fiercely defended.

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The recent reveal in the Peaky Blinders movie hasn’t been well-received by fans. Online reactions, particularly on Reddit, have been largely negative, with many calling the plot twist “deeply unsatisfying” and criticizing the writing. A common complaint is that the story made Tommy kill Arthur, instead of Arthur dying on his own, which fans found disappointing.

Despite the sad way his character’s story ended, Paul Anderson says he’s actually pleased with Arthur’s fate. Creator Steven Knight gave him a warning about the reveal beforehand, and Anderson told LadBible he thought it was a bold and impactful choice, something you rarely see on television.

Who plays Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man?

Paul Anderson previously stated he wouldn’t be back before Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man was released on Netflix. However, after watching the film, you might question if he was being completely honest.

Throughout the film, whenever Arthur’s death is mentioned, Tommy experiences flashbacks to the dramatic confrontation between them, revealing how deeply it still affects him. These flashbacks don’t show Arthur’s face clearly, instead focusing on Tommy’s reaction.

So, apparently Anderson wasn’t available to film those quick flashback scenes. It’s not actually him you see – they used a stand-in to play Arthur in those moments.

He explained to LadBible that he decided to let things play out as they would. He also said he thought the movie was “amazing.” He admitted he was a little worried beforehand, but felt they did a good job with the show. He believes they should have made a couple more seasons, though, as they didn’t produce enough.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is now available to watch on Netflix.

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2026-03-20 11:19