We have been open about how much we love Peaky Blinders (2013–2022), which is largely because Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, has grown to be a bit of an obsession for us. However, did you know that another actor was also vying for Shelby’s role in the uber-popular British period crime drama series?
The actor, best known for the Fast and Furious movie franchise, met with the Peaky Blinders’ creator and cast, but the Oppenheimer star narrowly edged his opponent out for the part. This gangster classic television series was created by renowned screenwriter, Steven Knight, and it was one of his best works. But he had to encounter a very challenging casting choice.
When deciding which actor best suited the role of Shelby, Knight was torn between two very different actors. One of these men was a legend in the acting world, able to appear in just about any movie you can think of. The other was a legendary figure in the action-thriller genre, which is known for its tough, hardboiled, gritty, or violent characters.
This Actor Was Supposed To Play Cillian Murphy’s Role In Peaky Blinders
Steven Knight’s Netflix original series Peaky Blinders completely changed the way British crime dramas were made. The moody, sinister series is centered on the crimes committed by the Peaky Blinders gang in the immediate years following World War I.
It follows the aspirational, crafty, and cunning Thomas Shelby, who is portrayed by the wonderful actor, Cillian Murphy, as he strives to rise to the top. Surprisingly, the Anthropoid actor’s path to becoming Tommy Shelby was not an easy one.
In fact, Hollywood heavyweight, Jason Statham, known most famously for spearheading the Transporter film series and his impressionable arc alongside Dwayne Johnson in the Fast & Furious franchise, almost came close to winning the part.
Murphy once discussed his audition for the iconic Thomas Shelby role in an interview with The Guardian. He also talked about how persistently he persuaded the show’s creator to give him the chance to play Shelby as the actor, 47, recalled:
“There was a bit of convincing needed. Initially, there may have been some doubts about whether I had the requisite physicality, which I understand. I’m not the most physically imposing individual.”
Steven Knight Explained His Change Of Heart About Cillian Murphy
Steven Knight has admitted in several interviews that he was initially hesitant to cast the Oppenheimer star because he believed Cillian Murphy and Tommy Shelby to be diametrically opposed. He believed that there was nothing about the actor that suggested he was a gangster.
In an interview with Esquire UK, Knight discussed how he almost cast Jason Statham as Thomas Shelby. The Hobbs & Shaw actor appeared to be the obvious choice because he has a history of playing “tough-guy” roles and has also previously collaborated with Knight. That was until Murphy made the decision to compete for the role of Shelby.
Knight alleged that he met with both Murphy and Statham and soon realized, though, that the former actor, too, had a lot to offer, and his four-word message might have something to do with that. To quote the Hummingbird director:
“I met them both in L.A. to talk about the role and opted for Jason. One of the reasons was because physically in the room Jason is Jason. Cillian, when you meet him, isn’t Tommy, obviously, but I was stupid enough not to understand that… [Murphy] sent a text saying, ‘Remember, I’m an actor.’ Which is absolutely the thing because he can transform himself to the extent you see on the screen. If you meet him in the street he is a totally different human being…What he can do is extraordinary.”
It appears that Murphy’s short text message was effective enough to sway Knight’s attention in his direction.
Well, the way the 28 Days Later actor portrayed Thomas Shelby ended up being a turning point in his acting career. He gave the world evidence that he could play roles that went beyond his basic physicality.
Peaky Blinders‘ six seasons are available to stream on Netflix.
Source- The Guardian
