‘Peaky Blinders’: How Alfie Solomons Could Have Been Written Into the Movie

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man brings the Shelby family back into the spotlight. Cillian Murphy reprised his role as Tommy Shelby, though Tommy begins the film far from the violent man he once was. In The Immortal Man, Tommy reclaims his Peaky Blinders status when his son, Duke Shelby, tries to run the gang like Tommy once did. While fans loved seeing some of the new characters in the movie, they missed a few favorites, like Alfie Solomons, played by Tom Hardy. Here’s what the show creator said about how he could’ve added Alfie into the film.

The ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ creator explained how he could’ve written Alfie Solomons into the film

In Peaky Blinders, Alfie Solomons is one of the show’s most unpredictable and magnetic figures. The volatile Jewish gang leader in Camden Town developed an alliance with Tommy Shelby that shifted constantly between business partnership and outright betrayal.

Alfie was introduced as a rum-running boss during Prohibition. He repeatedly double-crosses Tommy while also proving himself an invaluable, if dangerous, ally. His story takes a dramatic turn in season 4 when Tommy shoots him on the beach after uncovering yet another betrayal, seemingly killing him. However, in true Peaky Blinders fashion, Alfie later resurfaces in season 5. While he seemingly survived the gunshot wound, he was then living in isolation with cancer. By the final season, he re-enters the fold to assist Tommy once more, leaving his ultimate fate somewhat open-ended.

Fans who watched Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man noticed Alfie’s absence. The Peaky Blinders creator, Steven Knight, told The Hollywood Reporter that there was a way to write Alfie into the film. In the last two seasons, only Tommy sees Alfie alive. Knight considered a twist where Alfie had actually died in season 4 — and Tommy had been speaking to his ghost this whole time. With this in mind, Alfie could’ve returned in The Immortal Man as a spirit.

“I had an idea, which I haven’t really spoken about,” Knight said. “Ever since he was shot on the beach at Margate [in season 4], you’ve only ever seen Tommy and Alfie together alone. I thought, ‘Maybe [Alfie] appears, and we realize he’s been dead all that time.’ Now, I nearly did that, and I didn’t do it, but that was a thought.”

Steven Knight also confirmed that Arthur Shelby actor Paul Anderson was never written into the movie

Fans who watched Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man were shocked by Arthur Shelby’s ending. Arthur, played by Paul Anderson, was ultimately killed by Tommy Shelby in 1938, as seen in the film. Many fans were displeased with this plot point, given Tommy and Arthur’s extremely close bond through the Peaky Blinders series.

While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, creator Steven Knight explained that Anderson’s character was never written into the film script.

“What I’ll say is that the story determines the cast, and the story was set,” he shared. “I knew that Tommy needed to have done something that he couldn’t forgive himself for. Therefore, that’s why the plot went in that particular direction. But in terms of Paul, all I’ll say is that he’s a fantastic actor.”

Anderson also thought Arthur’s ending was “great.”

“I think it’s great,” he told LADBible. “I mean, it’s such a powerful thing to do. It’s something you don’t see on TV. Everyone thought, well, everyone knows Arthur’s gonna die. I was quite surprised. I [Arthur] was quite nasty sometimes; I weren’t very nice to people in it. But people loved me.”

Tom Hardy didn’t want his time as Alfie Solomons to end

Tom Hardy loved playing Alfie Solomons in the Peaky Blinders series. Arthur Shelby actor Paul Anderson previously told Digital Spy that there was an ongoing conversation regarding Alfie’s fate.

“I didn’t know that was coming,” Anderson told Digital Spy. “We were unsure … there was a whole thing about whether or not Alfie would live or die, or get shot or not. It was up for debate and discussion.”

“I know that Tom [Hardy] didn’t want to go,” he continued. “So, there was this whole thing.”