Summary
- Cillian Murphy convinced Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight he was the perfect choice for the lead role through an eerie text message.
- Initially, Knight favored Jason Statham for the role due to his physicality, but Murphy convinced him otherwise.
- Murphy fought hard for the role because he saw it as an opportunity to challenge himself and break away from his previous roles.
With one eerie text message, Cillian Murphy convinced Peaky Blinders' creator Steven Knight he was the perfect choice for the lead role, snatching it from Jason Statham. After meeting with both Statham and Murphy, Statham, well-known for his action movies, seemed to be the natural choice for the main character of the show. Luckily for Cillian Murphy, and fans of the show, Murphy was able to convince the show creator he was the perfect choice for Thomas Shelby.
Steven Knight originally saw Jason Statham as the natural choice for his intellectual and intimidating lead. And it seems Cillian Murphy might have been worried about the same thing, and he fought for the role, which he really wanted. With one text message, Murphy convinced the Peaky Blinders creator that he was the best choice for the role, beating out Jason Statham.
Cillian Murphy Snatched The Lead Role In 'Peaky Blinders' From Jason Statham With A Text Message
When Steven Knight was considering who should portray the intense Thomas Shelby, the lead role on BBC's gritty crime drama Peaky Blinders, he met with both Jason Statham and Cillian Murphy. After the interview, he'd initially decided to ask Statham to do the show, partly because The Transporter actor is physically intimidating, and a tough guy in real life.
During an interview with Esquire, Knight said, "I met them both in L.A. to talk about the role and opted for Jason (Statham). One of the reasons was because physically in the room Jason is Jason."
After meeting with Cillian Murphy, it seems Knight was less impressed, and didn't think Murphy was quite the right fit to play the violent gang leader. "Cillian, when you meet him, isn't Tommy [Shelby], obviously, but I was stupid enough not to understand that."
Apparently Murphy wanted to make sure he left the right impression on the show's creator. He ended up beating Statham out for the role by sending Steven Knight a chilling four word text message that completely changed his mind.
"He sent me a text saying, 'Remember, I'm an actor.' Which is absolutely the thing, because he can transform himself to the extent you see on the screen. If you meet him on the street he is a totally different human being... What he can do is extraordinary."
What Cillian Murphy's Message Meant
Some might have thought Cillian Murphy's message was a dig about Jason Statham, implying Statham wasn't a "real" actor. Some celebrities have been known to throw shade at others before. However, the Red Eye actor didn't mean to imply Statham couldn't act.
Murphy was letting Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight know he could also be brutal and intimidating if needed, even if he didn't come across that way in real life.
According to Digital Spy, Murphy responded to Jason Statham almost landing the Tommy Shelby role in Peaky Blinders during an interview with The Guardian. "There was a bit of convincing needed." Murphy commented.
"Initially, there may have been some doubts about whether I had the requisite physicality, which I understand. I'm not the most physically imposing individual."
About the text message, the Oppenheimer actor said, "It's a cool story. If I was that succinct, I'll take it." Murphy also mentioned his words had nothing to do with Statham, nor his ability as an actor. "Remember I'm an actor...and Statham isn't? They are entirely unconnected."
Why Did Murphy Fight So Hard For The Role?
After Cillian Murphy met with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, it seems he wanted to let him know that although he didn't seem like an intimidating person, he could play one. After the two met about the role, Murphy sent a text message to Knight, which ultimately convinced him Murphy was the right choice for the character.
Murphy has discussed his feelings about playing the criminal gang leader, and in 2022 Murphy spoke about why he had to fight for the role during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
About the role, Murphy said, "There was a slight hesitation because I'd really never played that physically imposing sort of hyper-masculine type character. In fact, I'd probably played the opposite up to that point."
However, the Batman Begins actor knew he wanted the role. "But I knew it was such amazing material and I knew that it was a gift of a role and I just needed to convince them that I could do it and I could work to become that physically imposing character."
Murphy added, "It's just a good story, but there is a kernel of truth in there as well. But that's the thing about acting, you shouldn't be limited. In this business it can be slightly reductive if you do one thing well once, the industry wants you to do that again and again and again."
"And it can by slightly myopic that way, but I've always tried to do the unexpected or play roles that are challenging so that you never get trapped in a career."
Murphy also commented that he sometimes struggled with playing such a violent character. "I struggle with the violence sometimes... I struggle with that part of it. But he (Shelby) is a contradictory, complex, difficult character to play. You've got to put aside your own moral compass and go with it."
Since Peaky Blinders ended, many might be wondering what's next for the star. There's been talk of a Peaky Blinders film, and Murphy is starring as the title role in Christopher Nolan's upcoming period drama, Oppenheimer.
