Cillian Murphy joins stars at Peaky Blinders film premiere

Cillian Murphy was among a star-studded line up in Birmingham as the red carpet was rolled out for the premiere of Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man.

Hundreds of fans, many donning flat caps and tweed, turned out to catch a glimpse of the cast - which includes Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth - as they arrived at the city's Symphony Hall for the drama's switch to the big screen.

The film picks up from Steven Knight's acclaimed, Birmingham-set TV series, with Oscar winner Murphy reprising his role as gang leader Tommy Shelby who is depicted returning to the city during World War Two.

At Monday's glitzy event, Knight made a point of saying that Birmingham - where the film was largely shot - was itself one of the stars, and Murphy said the city and Peaky Blinders could not be separated from each other.

The actor said it was only right the premiere was hosted in Birmingham.

"It's important for the fans, it's important for [Steven Knight], I think it was very important.

"Steve has written it from stories he was told by his parents growing up here... it's huge, you can't separate the two."

Earlier, Knight spoke about how Peaky Blinders' fans had been a driving force behind the drama's success.

"The fans have been like the energy for the show from the very beginning," he said.

"It was never really pushed or promoted, or advertised much. It was the fans who discovered it and then talked to each other about it."

The film is released at cinemas on Friday for two weeks, and will then stream on Netflix from 20 March.

"The thing with Peaky is that people do tend to watch it on their own or in their house but this is a chance for people to watch it together," Knight added of the movie experience.

Local celebrities turning out for the event included Duran Duran's John Taylor, Birmingham City and Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Carney, and Aston Villa players Jadon Sancho, Ezri Konsa, Tammy Abraham and Morgan Rogers.

But the occasion, as Knight suggested, was also about the fans.

Claire White and Albert Laszlo travelled from Derby to meet the stars.

They said they were hoping to open a Peaky Blinders-themed cafe and cake bar, decorated with signed memorabilia.

Clair McManus, Susan McManus, Lisa Turner and Elisha Guiney also dressed up for the occasion.

"We've come for a good night out and we're just pleased to be here," Clair McManus said.

"It's our first premiere as well," added Turner.

"I love it because it's about Birmingham and I love Birmingham, and of course Cillian Murphy helps as well."

Arthur Cocker was another of those turning out for the event, wearing a two-piece suit, a watch and traditional chain.

The 55-year-old fan from Birmingham said the series helped put the city on the map.

"The new series is getting filmed here now, and from this evening, people who pass us by are going to want to watch Peaky Blinders," he said.

"Everybody's making an effort to get dressed for the occasion. People just want to be part of the culture of the Peaky Blinders and the history."

Ahead of the premiere, Transport for West Midlands unveiled a specially-designed Metro tram with the message Home of the Peaky Blinders emblazoned on the side.

It was shown off for the first time at the Central Library tram stop in Centenary Square - with the tram given a new name, Steven Knight, in recognition of his work promoting the city and the wider region through the franchise.

Mechanical bull Ozzy, named after late rock star Ozzy Osbourne and which stands inside the city's main railway station, was also given a Peaky Blinders makeover - with a massive flat cap nestled in between his horns.

Alongside the bronze bovine, there was also an interactive experience for fans where they could step inside a themed photo booth.

The film is set in Birmingham in 1940 amid the destruction caused by World War Two, when a greying and older-looking Shelby is said to have "driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet".

New additions to the cast include Dune actress Rebecca Ferguson, Reservoir Dogs actor Tim Roth and Saltburn star Barry Keoghan, who plays Shelby's son.

Asked whether she had ever considered giving her character a Brummie twang, Ferguson said it was never on the cards.

"I'm quite uncomfortable with accents in general - they kind of hinder me, and I feel quite claustrophobic," she said, adding "Brummie was never a conversation."

Another award winner, Stephen Graham of Adolescence fame, returns to the cast, as well as Sophie Rundle who plays Tommy's sister Ada.

Written by Knight and directed by Tom Harper, the film features a cast alongside Murphy that includes Ned Dennehy (Culprits), Packy Lee (Blue Lights) and Ian Peck (His Dark Materials), as well as Jay Lycurgo (Steve).

After the film, Peaky Blinders is to return to TV with a time-jump. It is set to follow the exploits of a new generation of the Shelby family after World War Two.

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