Cillian Murphy Snatched Peaky Blinders Role From Jason Statham With One Eerie Text to Creator
Cillian Murphy managed to secure the role of Tommy Shelby with only four words.
When we think of Peaky Blinders, one name immediately comes to mind: Cillian Murphy. His portrayal of the tough and dangerous Thomas Shelby has become solid proof of what a big talent Murphy is.
But did you know that Jason Statham was almost cast in the role instead? Initially, Steven Knight, the show's creator, had a strong desire for Statham to be involved.
Knight had met both Murphy and Statham in Los Angeles to discuss the role. At first, he was swayed by Statham's physical presence.
After all, Tommy Shelby is a gangster, and Statham is known for his imposing physique. On the other hand, Murphy stands at only 5 foot 7 or 8 and is somewhat skinny. It seemed like Statham was the obvious choice.
Murphy, known for his dedication to his craft, had to fight for the role. In an interview with The Guardian, he admitted that he had to convince the creator.
He acknowledged that there may have been initial doubts about his requisite physicality and understood why. He mentioned that he was not the most physically imposing individual.
However, as we all know, Murphy eventually won the role and made it his own. Knight realized his mistake after receiving a text message from Murphy that simply said, "Remember, I'm an actor." Those four words had a profound impact on Knight and made him reconsider his decision.
Despite those doubts, Murphy's performance as Thomas Shelby speaks for itself. He has received numerous awards for his portrayal, including a couple of National Television Awards. Fans have fallen in love with his haunted and menacing character, and it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role.
While Statham is undoubtedly talented in his own right, it's difficult to envision him nailing the portrayal of the complex character arc that Murphy accomplished over six seasons.
Peaky Blinders concluded more than a year ago with its sixth and final season. Knight revealed that a movie is set to continue the story, but currently, there are no details neither on filming nor release date.
Sources: Esquire UK on YouTube, The Guardian