Jason Statham and Cillian Murphy may not share the same screen style, but at one point, both men were seriously considered to lead ‘Peaky Blinders.’ Before Thomas Shelby became one of television’s most chilling crime bosses, the show’s creator found himself weighing two drastically different interpretations of the same character.
And while viewers now instantly associate the flat cap and cold stare with Murphy, Statham stood inches from claiming the role.
‘Peaky Blinders’ Creator Preferred Jason Statham Over Cillian Murphy
When Steven Knight began developing ‘Peaky Blinders,’ he already knew Thomas Shelby wasn’t a traditional gangster; he envisioned a war veteran operating like a man already half dead, emotionally sealed off, and strategically dangerous. But finding the actor who could express that internal emptiness wasn’t simple. Knight met both Statham and Murphy in Los Angeles while trying to determine who could command the role.
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Knight later explained that he initially chose Statham because of the sheer impact of meeting him in person, saying he “opted for Jason because physically in the room Jason is Jason.” Statham’s presence naturally carried the intimidating force he imagined for Tommy. Knight also admitted that Murphy “isn’t Tommy, obviously.”
How Cillian Won The Iconic Tommy Shelby Role
At the start, Statham seemed like the safe, logical choice. But Murphy wasn’t ready to settle for second place. Knight recalled receiving a short but transformative message from him: “Remember, I’m an actor.” It forced Knight to reassess what the character truly required. He later said Murphy could “transform himself,” and noted that meeting him off-camera felt nothing like watching him perform on-screen.
Knight finally recognized that emotional subtlety, psychological depth, and internal calculation mattered more than physical intimidation. Had Knight not reconsidered, television audiences might have met a Tommy Shelby.
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Whether he’s fighting off danger in Parker, surviving in Wrath of Man, or leaning into comedy in Spy and The Expendables, he plays men audiences instinctively support. Even when he enters a franchise as a villain, like Deckard Shaw in the Fast & Furious saga, viewers eventually want him redeemed.
But Thomas Shelby was never written to be universally adored. He’s a political manipulator, a strategist, and an anti-hero willing to use family, allies, and enemies as collateral. His brutality comes through silence and chess-level planning, not explosive physicality. Casting someone whose screen reputation leans heroic might have softened the character’s darker edges.
Statham didn’t lose the role because of a lack of ability; he simply wasn’t the right tonal match for a long-form psychological character study. Murphy offered something Peaky Blinders depended on: ambiguity. Knight later acknowledged that the goal wasn’t to hire the biggest presence, but the most fitting one. And Murphy’s talent allowed Thomas Shelby to become one of modern television’s most unforgettable anti-heroes.
