Peaky Blinders legend finally sets record straight over Netflix film rumours

One of the stars of Peaky Blinders has set the record straight after mass speculation over whether or not he’s going to be in the Netflix film.

Three years on from the final series of the Birmingham-set BBC period drama, fans are going wild over the latest developments regarding the upcoming movie spin-off.

The feature-length film, titled The Immortal Man, will see Cillian Murphy reprise his role as gang leader Tommy Shelby, with other returning cast members including Sophie Rundle, Stephen Graham and Ned Dennehy. But what about Sam Claflin as real-life fascist politician Oswald Mosley?

Metro recently had a conversation with Sam about leading the new adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo as Alexandre Dumas’ tragic protagonist Edmond Dantès. During our chat, we had to find out once and for all if Mosley is returning to the Peaky Blinders franchise.

The Hunger Games star initially admitted that he could ‘keep the speculation going’ by not saying anything – but then instantly cleared up the rumours.

‘I don’t know that I should not say anything, and keep the speculation going… but no, sadly, I’ll share – I’m not in the film, though, I’m so excited as a fan of the series,’ he said.

‘I don’t know any details other than the casting and some of the people in it. I’m thoroughly excited.’

Sam, 39, joined Peaky Blinders from season five as Oswald Mosley, the politician who founded the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s.

In the season six finale, it’s discovered that Mosley married Diana Mitford (Amber Anderson) in Germany – and that’s where the story leaves them. In real life, Mosley and Mitford wed in 1936, and the former died in 1980 at the age of 84.

Addressing the possibility of playing Mosley again in the future, Sam said: ‘The hope is that he is still alive. Well, I mean, Oswald Mosley lived until 84. He is still alive in the world, whether or not he’s a part of the world.

‘I’ve heard rumours similar that [the film is] set in the future. I think Oswald Mosley kind of started losing light and his following during the war.’

Now, Sam is starring in a new period drama, but set in a vastly different period from Peaky Blinders. Instead of early 20th-century England, he’s gone back even further to 19th-century France, telling the tale of a wrongfully imprisoned man who vows revenge upon his release.

The Count of Monte Cristo, which was originally serialised between 1844 and 1846, has been adapted multiple times over the years on the big and small screen, with actors including Richard Chamberlain and Louis Jourdan portraying Edmond Dantès.

‘It’s known as a classic for a reason,’ Sam remarked. ‘Back then, people didn’t have televisions or radio sets. The fact that it has this cliffhanger element to it to keep people wanting to stick with the story definitely adds to its flavour.

‘The characters are so rich and so complex. It’s an incredibly authentic insight into what life was like back then in France, the politics, as much as seeing how the nobility lived.’

Sam acknowledged that playing Edmond Dantès was a ‘dream role’ for him, given there are ‘so many layers’ to the character. ‘It was a challenge, but one that I was very excited to get my teeth stuck into,’ he added.

Speaking of iconic characters, two years ago, the actor transformed into a ’70s rockstar when he played Billy Dunne in the Amazon Prime series Daisy Jones and the Six, adapted from the beloved book by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Ever since the one season was released, fans have expressed their desperation for a second outing, or for the actors who were a part of the band to reunite for a live tour.

While nothing is set in stone at this point, there clearly is a desire among the cast to make something happen in the future.

‘What I will say is I would love to,’ Sam confirmed. ‘It goes without saying that has been my favourite job that I’ve done, and my favourite people that I’ve worked with.’

The Me Before You actor outlined how special an experience it was to work with the actors and the crew, filming in the ‘magical cities’ Los Angeles and New Orleans post-Covid.

‘With regards to season two, and with regards to a tour, there were initial conversations about doing a tour. The band itself is six actors, and we all have different schedules. We all live in different parts of the world, trying to align, that was proving difficult,’ he said.

‘Then we had the opportunity of playing at the MTV Movie Awards, which we rehearsed for. We were rehearsing, and I think it was the day before the MTV Movie Awards, the writers’ strike happened, so loads of actors and acts were pulling out in solidarity with the writers. We were advised to do the same, so we reluctantly agreed to pull out.

‘Then, of course, the actors’ strike started, and then by that point, too much time had passed. All of a sudden, [it was] two years on from the show coming out.’

In November, Sam was in LA and met up with his co-star Riley Keough and the book’s author Taylor, where the three of them were ‘conversing and trying to think up ways in which we could get a season two off the ground’.

‘It’s not up to us, it’s not up to me, it’s not up to the fans,’ he stressed. ‘I feel like if there was a petition made, maybe there’s a way in which it could get going. The desire is there. Everyone would want it to be perfect. We don’t want to rush anything if there was to ever be anything. But all I know is the desire is there across the board.’

In three years, it will have been five years since the show was released. So perhaps that could be a prime time to pop a reunion in the calendar?

‘Maybe a five-year anniversary, [we could] get together and do a tour,’ Sam said. ‘Suki’s now making her own music. Will Harrison was in the Bob Dylan biopic. Everyone’s so busy, and everyone’s had a baby. Suki had a baby, Riley’s had a baby. It’s gonna be difficult to get all together.’ When there’s a will, there’s a way.

The Count of Monte Cristo is available from 2nd August on U and U&Drama.

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