“It’s Cillian’s show really”: Peaky Blinders Star Left The Show Due to Cillian Murphy, Turned Down Similar Offers As Show’s Success Skyrocketed
Cillian Murphy has been in the media since he got the lead in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. The highly anticipated summer release hit theaters recently and is performing phenomenally. The film clashed with Barbie at the box office.
Murphy needs no introduction to the entertainment industry. The Irish actor has mastered his way via his acting prowess and odd appearance, becoming a household figure. Before starring in Oppenheimer, the 47-year-old has been part of various films and series. He rose to fame with the popular historical fiction-drama Peaky Blinders. The Netflix show became a global hit, and the actor played a key role in the series. The show had a stellar cast that includes Cillian Murphy, Anya Taylor-Joy, and the late Helen McCrory. The show has seen its fair share of cast exits. John Cole, one of the cast members revealed that he essentially left the show because of lead star Murphy.
Joe Cole left Peaky Blinders due to Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy has become a household name after his role in Peaky Blinders. The show became a global hit due to its availability on Netflix. Murphy played the lead Thomas Shelby in the historical fiction-drama. Peaky Blinders, which is set in early 20th-century England, relates the tale of a mafia family named the Peaky Blinders that effectively ran Birmingham. Thomas Shelby and his brothers, who all served in the British Army during World War I, are members of the gang.
The show had a huge cast, and everyone played an essential role. However, it also saw characters exit it after a few seasons. One of them was Joe Cole, who played, John Shelby in the show. He was one of the younger siblings of Tommy Shelby. The character was possibly the most vicious as well. On the show, viewers watched him stab a man in the eye and even blow up a train.
Cole instantly became a fan favorite after starring in the British period crime drama. Sadly, John was only part of his gang family until the start of season 4, when the character was killed off. Even though the character’s demise was heartbreaking, it turns out that Cole was quite happy for the character to be eliminated from the show.
In an interview, he revealed, “With Peaky Blinders, I never really got out of the gates in that role. It’s Cillian’s show really.”
The 34-year-old star was concerned about his career and believed that Cillian Murphy, the lead in Peaky Blinders, overshadowed him.
He further confessed,
“I actually chose to leave Peaky Blinders because I wanted to explore new avenues and new characters and new stories.”
Cole revealed he was approached by directors to be part of similar gand kind of shows after Peaky Blinders. The actor said he eventually turned it down, except for the Sky drama Gangs of London.
Cillian Murphy starring Peaky Blinders ended after six seasons
There is no disputing that Peaky Blinders is one of the best British drama shows. Steven Knight, the show’s director, has given it an intriguing tone. Set in England in the 1900s, Peaky Blinders tells the story of a gangster family called Peaky Blinders, who basically controlled Birmingham. The crime gang is led by Thomas Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy.
The show began on September 12, 2013, and was initially broadcast on BBC Two until the fourth series (with repeats on BBC Four). The fifth and sixth series was subsequently relocated to BBC One. The British period series had a successful run of six seasons and became a global hit due to its stellar cast.
The main cast of the show included Cillian Murphy, starring as Tommy Shelby, Helen McCrory as Elizabeth “Polly” Gray, Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby, Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby, and Joe Cole as John Shelby.
Peaky Blinders is available to stream on Netflix.
Also Read: Cillian Murphy Reveals His Favorite Oppenheimer Scene and it’s Not the Nuke Explosion
Source: Metro
