Published on 29 March 2026 at 08:50 by Editorial Staff
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal on Netflix surprises with the absence of Finn Shelby, a narrative choice linked to his exile and actor Harry Kirton’s decisions.
The film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal, newly available on Netflix, is generating massive excitement, but the noticeable absence of Finn Shelby continues to fuel the questions of loyal fans.
Whenever the Netflix platform welcomes a new project from an iconic universe, the excitement is immediate. After propelling Peaky Blinders to cult status, the digital giant offers its subscribers the direct sequel with the film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal. An unmissable rendezvous that, however, sparks discussions on a specific point: some members of the famous Shelby family are conspicuously absent. This is the case for Finn Shelby, the youngest with a tumultuous journey, portrayed by Harry Kirton. What happened to explain this absence in a saga where each Shelby seems to have a role to play? Let’s dive into the explanations, as fans of the series are still taken aback.
Finn Shelby excluded from the Peaky Blinders film: why this narrative choice?
The film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal continues the story from where season 6 left off, reuniting the most anticipated names from the cast, from Cillian Murphy to Sophie Rundle. However, it is impossible for fans to overlook a striking double absence: Arthur Shelby and especially Finn Shelby no longer appear in the narrative.
To understand this divisive decision, we must revisit the final moments of season 6. Finn Shelby, a familiar figure in Birmingham until then, had his loyalty questioned due to a series of strategic errors with dramatic consequences. His tendency towards disobedience – especially when he mentioned the assassination of Oswald Mosley to Billy Grade (who, in the ultimate betrayal, passed the information to the IRA, costing Polly Gray her life) – marks a turning point. Far from redeeming himself, Finn refuses to kill Billy during the final showdown, even aiming his gun at his own allies. This act seals his disgrace: he is cast out of the family, furious and humiliated, while threatening to return and reclaim his place.
The screenwriter Steven Knight sheds light on this absence: according to him, Finn “now leads his life in Liverpool, far from Birmingham” (source: The Hollywood Reporter). This narrative distancing perfectly matches Finn’s arc: a forced exile for a Shelby in rupture. It seems to be a door left ajar by the show’s creators, hinting at a potential return. Fans of the series eagerly await this twist as a symbol of the Peaky Blinders DNA.
Harry Kirton: the personal reasons behind Finn Shelby’s departure
On the actor’s side, the decision is not trivial. Harry Kirton, the face of Finn Shelby since the beginning, has justified this strategic break in his career. In an interview with Metro, he confessed: “If I continue like this until the end of my twenties, I think my career could be complicated.” This statement, marked by lucidity, shows how much the actor wants to avoid the pitfall of a single label. After evolving in the Shelby universe, the desire to explore other roles has led him to take a step back.
Since the conclusion of Peaky Blinders, Harry Kirton has moved towards new horizons: he has notably starred in Boudica: Queen of War alongside Olga Kurylenko, Clive Standen, and Lucy Martin. These choices reflect his desire to broaden his artistic palette, asserting a new professional chapter outside Birmingham.
This shift also reinforces, from a narrative perspective, the effect of absence and longing for viewers, adding a dose of realism to the film’s writing. By keeping the possibility of a return (since the threat posed by Finn was never lifted), Peaky Blinders continues to tantalize its audience, cultivating the art of suspense for which the saga is known.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Metro, Tv-Leisure
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