The ‘Stranger Things’ star you didn’t expect to see in the ‘Peaky Blinders’ universe
Netflix has a major update for Stranger Things and Peaky Blinders fans alike, so if you’re one of either, reading this, better tighten those seatbelts: the first picture of the new era of Steven Knight’s cult gangster drama has arrived, showcasing none other than Jonathan Byers, AKA Charlie Heaton, as Charles Shelby.
Following the explosive Peaky Blinders: Immortal Man, the gangland drama returns with a new generation of Shelbys in the spotlight, led by Jamie Bell and Heaton.
The Peaky Blinders sequel series is set years after the events of The Immortal Man, and is currently in production in and around Digbeth Loc Studios in Birmingham.
The synopsis reads, “Having fought a violent war, much of it behind enemy lines, Charles Shelby is now embracing normality. He hasn’t seen his half-brother, Duke, in years. Charles severed all ties to the Peaky Blinders gang and the hedonistic Shelby lifestyle. But can you ever escape your own blood?”
“In this new era of Peaky Blinders, a decade after World War II, the race to rebuild Birmingham becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions. This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and jeopardy.”
Heaton’s character details were so far shrouded in a mystery since the casting was revealed last month alongside Bell, who takes the mantle of Duke Shelby from Barry Keoghan. The cast also marks his Netflix comeback, having previously portrayed the elder Byers sibling in the Duffer Brothers’ smash hit Stranger Things.
In addition to Heaton and Bell, the sequel series of Peaky Blinders also stars Jessica Brown Findlay, Lashana Lynch, and Lucy Karczewski in her TV debut. However, the details of the characters they portray will be revealed later on. Both six-episode seasons of the series will be released on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK and on Netflix in the rest of the regions.
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is backing up the production, and Peaky Blinders serves as the first commission after the new BBC agreement with the WMCA and Create Central to expand BBC and partner production investment in the West Midlands. Banjijay UK companies Kudos and Garrison Drama are producing the series.
So, you might have seen Heaton tackle monsters so far, but it’s about time you see how he lives up to the Shelby name.