Jason Statham was the first choice for the role of Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, until a text message changed the mind of series creator Steven Knight.
Knight revealed that he had originally envisaged Statham in the role and had left meetings with both him and Cillian Murphy, the actor who ultimately played Tommy, convinced that Statham was the right fit.
“I met them both in LA to talk about the role and opted for Jason,” Knight told Esquire.
During the same interview, Knight also revealed that he regretted killing off just one character from the show.
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Steven Knight Live ‘Peaky Blinders’ Watchalong | Esquire UK