Steven Knight on why Barry Keoghan is 'perfect' as Tommy Shelby's son

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight knew "from the beginning" that he wanted Barry Keoghan to play Tommy Shelby's son in the upcoming movie.

In Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which continues the story from the six-season TV show, Cillian Murphy reprises his role as Birmingham gangster Tommy Shelby.

In the latest trailer, which was released on Thursday, it was finally revealed who Keoghan would be playing - Tommy's son. According to Tommy's sister Ada, his "gypsy son is running the Peaky Blinders like it's 1919 all over again".

Creator Knight, who wrote the film's script, told Entertainment Weekly in a trailer breakdown interview that the Irish actor was "perfect" for the role.

"I never leap on board when people start saying about an actor, 'Oh my God, he's got this stillness,'" Knight said of casting Keoghan as Tommy's son. "You start using all these words about an actor. But with him, it's all true. I wanted him to be the son from the beginning, and when we knew we got him, he took it to another level. Who he is in real life is perfect for this. He's just so good."

Addressing the final shot of Tommy and his son in the trailer, Knight added, "Just to see those two in The Garrison (pub) on either side of the bar drinking whiskey - didn't get any better for me."

According to the official logline, The Immortal Man is set in Birmingham in 1940 amid the chaos of World War II.

"Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground," it reads.

The film, which is set to conclude Tommy's story and set up the upcoming sequel series, also stars Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth, as well as returning actors Stephen Graham and Sophie Rundle.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man hits select cinemas on 6 March, followed by Netflix on 20 March.