Cillian Murphy Reacts to ‘Peaky Blinders’ Movie Taking on Nazis: ‘The Last Thing I Want to Be in Is a Preachy Work. Films Should Never Tell You How to Feel. They Should Just Ask Questions’
#Cillian Murphy#Peaky Blinders#The Immortal Man#Tommy Shelby#Nazis#World War II#Film criticism#Social commentary
📌 Key Takeaways
Cillian Murphy reprises his role as Tommy Shelby in 'The Immortal Man'
The film features British gangsters collaborating with Nazis during WWII
Murphy addressed the controversial portrayal of Nazis in current social contexts
Murphy prefers thought-provoking films over preachy ones that dictate audience emotions
📖 Full Retelling
Cillian Murphy discussed his role as Tommy Shelby in the upcoming 'Peaky Blinders' movie 'The Immortal Man' during an interview with The Telegraph on March 3, 2026, addressing the film's controversial portrayal of Nazis as villains during a time when some public figures are openly aligning with Nazi ideology. The film, which marks the highly anticipated continuation of the popular BBC series, is set against the backdrop of World War II and features the nefarious British gangsters teaming up with Nazis to tank the United Kingdom's economy. During the conversation, Murphy was informed about the contemporary relevance of portraying Nazis as antagonists, particularly given the rise of figures like political commentator Nick Fuentes who have expressed alignment with Nazi ideology on social media platforms. Murphy expressed his artistic philosophy regarding politically charged content, stating that 'the last thing I want to be in is a preachy work,' emphasizing his belief that 'films should never tell you how to feel. They should just ask questions,' suggesting that the movie aims to provoke thought rather than deliver a simplistic moral message.
🏷️ Themes
Historical fiction, Political commentary, Artistic integrity
Nazism, formally named National Socialism (NS), is the far-right totalitarian ideology associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During Hitler's rise to power, it was frequently called Hitlerism. Nazism is a form of fascism, with an emphasis on pseudo-scientific theories of...
Immortal Man, also known as Klarn Arg, is a superhero in the DC Comics Universe. He first appeared in Strange Adventures #177 (June 1965). Multiple versions of his origin connect him to the villain Vandal Savage, with both gaining immortality by encountering a strange meteorite during prehistoric ti...
The Peaky Blinders were a street gang based in Birmingham, England, which operated from the 1880s until the 1920s. The group consisted largely of young criminals from lower- to working-class backgrounds. They engaged in robbery, violence, racketeering, illegal bookmaking, and control of gambling.
Cillian Murphy ( KILL-ee-ən; born 25 May 1976) is an Irish actor and film producer. His works encompass both stage and screen, and his accolades include an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
He made his professional debut in Enda Walsh's 1996 play Disco Pigs, a role he later rep...
Thomas Michael Shelby is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the British period crime drama Peaky Blinders. He is played by Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who has won two Irish Film & Television Awards and two National Television Awards for his portrayal of Shelby. The character has rece...
Mar 3, 2026 7:20am PT Cillian Murphy Reacts to ‘Peaky Blinders’ Movie Taking on Nazis: ‘The Last Thing I Want to Be in Is a Preachy Work. Films Should Never Tell You How to Feel. They Should Just Ask Questions’ By Zack Sharf Plus Icon Zack Sharf Digital News Director ZSharf Latest Cillian Murphy Reacts to ‘Peaky Blinders’ Movie Taking on Nazis: ‘The Last Thing I Want to Be in Is a Preachy Work. Films Should Never Tell You How to Feel. They Should Just Ask Questions’ 6 minutes ago Christina Applegate Now Cringes Over ‘Married With Children’ Audience Lusting for Her, Says Kelly Bundy Role Worsened Her Anorexia: ‘I Had to Be Skinny. I Was Size 0’ 16 hours ago ‘The Mummy 4’ Directors Say Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz Wouldn’t Return Unless ‘They Loved the Script’: ‘It’s Beautiful, Scary and Sweeping’ 17 hours ago See All Cillian Murphy is back as Tommy Shelby in the long-awaited “Peaky Blinders” movie, “The Immortal Man.” The film brings the beloved show into the age of the WWII as nefarious British gangsters team up with Nazis to tank the U.K. economy. During an interview with The Telegraph , Murphy was informed that his “Peaky Blinders” movie has Nazis as the “baddies during an era where, especially on social media, people, like the political commentator Nick Fuentes, are openly saying they are aligned with the Nazis.” Related Stories Halle Berry on Telling a ‘Few of My Bosses’ to ‘Shut the F--- Up’ and Rumors She’s Returning as Storm in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’: ‘You All Think I’m Being Coy and I’m Being Silly, but I’m Not There’
