When the trailer for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man finally dropped in February 2026, it felt like Birmingham’s most dangerous family had simply been waiting in the shadows. Nearly four years after Peaky Blinders wrapped its sixth and final season in 2022, Cillian Murphy has returned as Tommy Shelby. The film is once again written by Steven Knight, the same creator now tasked with steering the next James Bond screenplay.

That shared creative DNA inevitably sparks a question circulating through film circles: if Knight is shaping the next Bond story and Murphy remains one of his most trusted collaborators, could the Oscar-winning actor one day walk into the Bond universe? 

While promoting Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, Cillian Murphy and Barry Keoghan were both asked by EXTRA, the inevitable question: with Steven Knight writing the next James Bond film, could either of them appear in the franchise? Murphy brushed off the idea with a laugh, joking that he’s “kind of busy,” suggesting he is not exactly lining up to step into the Bond universe anytime soon.

Keoghan, however, leaned into the fantasy. While he admitted he does not see himself playing Bond, he was quick to pitch an alternative. 

“I don’t think I’d play Bond, I’d like to come in and do the villain,” he said, acknowledging the weight and expectations tied to the role. Murphy immediately recognized the headline potential of that answer, joking, “That’s a headline right there.” 

The moment landed because Bond villains have historically become cultural fixtures, from Ernst Stavro Blofeld to Raoul Silva, often stealing the spotlight from the spy himself. Dreaming about Bond roles is hardly new. Apart from Keoghan's desire for a villain role, Henry Cavill famously auditioned for Casino Royale before Daniel Craig ultimately defined the modern era of the franchise. But he did not get the role, nor does he want it now. 

When Does 'Peaky Blinders: Immortal Man' Release on Netflix? Date, Time, and Everything You Need to Know

But long before the Bond speculation entered the conversation, Murphy and Keoghan’s latest collaboration had already begun with a surprisingly casual message.

The collaboration of Cillian Murphy and Barry Keoghan in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man began with an unexpectedly casual message. Murphy revealed that he asked Keoghan to play his on-screen son, Duke Shelby, via a Father’s Day text.

Keoghan recalled the moment with a laugh:

“A text message, yeah, happy Father’s Day and Cillian asked me did I want to play his son in Peaky Blinders,” he said in the same EXTRA interview. The two had previously worked together in Dunkirk, and Murphy said he had been quietly following Keoghan’s career ever since. 

The role gave Keoghan a chance to explore the complicated father-son dynamics that define the Shelby world. He credited Steven Knight’s script for laying the groundwork while leaving space for personal interpretation. Murphy himself sees the film as a thematic continuation of the series. After six seasons, he said the strongest throughline has always been family.

Building the movie around that idea, he believes, offers fans a meaningful conclusion to the saga. As Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man reaches theatres and begins streaming on Netflix on March 20, one question lingers in the background: could this creative circle eventually extend into the Bond universe? For now, the speculation remains part of the fun. 

“I Look More Cillian Murphy Than Cillian” — Barry Keoghan Flexes Taking Over Netflix’s ‘Peaky Blinders’ Saga

Would you want to see Cillian Murphy or Barry Keoghan step into the world of 007? Share your thoughts in the comments.