Crime Pays: Murphy's Peaky Return and Pine's Gritty New Role

Olivia Bennett, 2/19/2025Darlings, Hollywood's serving up a delicious crime drama double feature! While Tommy Shelby's razor-sharp saga continues with a star-studded Peaky Blinders film, Chris Pine's trading space for Texas grit in "Nowhere Fast." The genre's alive and kicking, proving bad boys never go out of style! 🎬✨

The much-anticipated "Peaky Blinders" film — officially wrapped in December 2024 — is promising to be the crown jewel in creator Steven Knight's growing empire. But darlings, hold onto your razor-lined caps because this isn't the end of the road for our beloved Birmingham gang. Knight, speaking with the kind of cryptic confidence that would make a mob boss proud, teased on BBC Breakfast that "the world of 'Peaky' will continue" — though he coyly added he's "not allowed to announce it."

The assembled footage, according to Knight, is nothing short of "fantastic," featuring what he calls "the best British actors all in one place." And with Cillian Murphy returning to his career-defining role as Tommy Shelby — fresh off his recent surge of success — this cinematic extension feels less like a cash grab and more like a carefully orchestrated power play.

Meanwhile, in a delicious parallel that proves Hollywood's appetite for gritty crime tales remains unsated, Chris Pine is trading his Star Trek uniform for what one assumes will be considerably dustier attire in "Nowhere Fast." The project — helmed by "Fargo" mastermind Noah Hawley — will see Pine returning to familiar territory as a small-time criminal whose actions spark what promises to be a thoroughly entertaining Texas-sized catastrophe.

The timing couldn't be more perfect for Pine, whose 2023 directorial debut "Poolman" sank faster than a concrete-shoed informant in the Chicago River. But darlings, let's not count our leading man out just yet — his track record in the crime genre, particularly in "Hell or High Water," suggests this could be exactly the vehicle needed to restore his silver screen swagger.

What's particularly fascinating about these parallel developments is how they reflect the industry's continuing love affair with crime narratives — though each approaches the genre from distinctly different angles. While "Peaky Blinders" draws its strength from historical gravitas and familial drama, "Nowhere Fast" appears to be aiming for that distinctly American flavor of sun-baked desperation that made "Hell or High Water" such a compelling watch.

The production landscape for both projects couldn't be more different — Hawley's Houston-based 26 Keys Productions is taking point on "Nowhere Fast," while the "Peaky" film enjoys the robust support of Netflix's global machinery. Yet both share that essential ingredient: star power backed by proven creative forces.

In an industry that often feels like it's running out of original ideas faster than a bootlegger's car in a police chase, these projects suggest there's still plenty of life in the crime genre — provided you've got the right people pulling the strings and the courage to let them do what they do best.

In a whirlwind of Hollywood developments that would make Tommy Shelby's head spin, the entertainment industry is serving up a double shot of crime-focused productions that have set tongues wagging across tinseltown.The much-anticipated "Peaky Blinders" film — officially wrapped in December 2024 — is promising to be the crown jewel in creator Steven Knight's growing empire. But darlings, hold onto your razor-lined caps because this isn't the end of the road for our beloved Birmingham gang. Knight, speaking with the kind of cryptic confidence that would make a mob boss proud, teased on BBC Breakfast that "the world of 'Peaky' will continue" — though he coyly added he's "not allowed to announce it."The assembled footage, according to Knight, is nothing short of "fantastic," featuring what he calls "the best British actors all in one place." And with Cillian Murphy returning to his career-defining role as Tommy Shelby — fresh off his recent surge of success — this cinematic extension feels less like a cash grab and more like a carefully orchestrated power play.Meanwhile, in a delicious parallel that proves Hollywood's appetite for gritty crime tales remains unsated, Chris Pine is trading his Star Trek uniform for what one assumes will be considerably dustier attire in "Nowhere Fast." The project — helmed by "Fargo" mastermind Noah Hawley — will see Pine returning to familiar territory as a small-time criminal whose actions spark what promises to be a thoroughly entertaining Texas-sized catastrophe.The timing couldn't be more perfect for Pine, whose 2023 directorial debut "Poolman" sank faster than a concrete-shoed informant in the Chicago River. But darlings, let's not count our leading man out just yet — his track record in the crime genre, particularly in "Hell or High Water," suggests this could be exactly the vehicle needed to restore his silver screen swagger.What's particularly fascinating about these parallel developments is how they reflect the industry's continuing love affair with crime narratives — though each approaches the genre from distinctly different angles. While "Peaky Blinders" draws its strength from historical gravitas and familial drama, "Nowhere Fast" appears to be aiming for that distinctly American flavor of sun-baked desperation that made "Hell or High Water" such a compelling watch.The production landscape for both projects couldn't be more different — Hawley's Houston-based 26 Keys Productions is taking point on "Nowhere Fast," while the "Peaky" film enjoys the robust support of Netflix's global machinery. Yet both share that essential ingredient: star power backed by proven creative forces.In an industry that often feels like it's running out of original ideas faster than a bootlegger's car in a police chase, these projects suggest there's still plenty of life in the crime genre — provided you've got the right people pulling the strings and the courage to let them do what they do best.