Peaky Blinders Finally Gives Netflix Its Perfect Yellowstone Competitor
Netflix Enters the Western-Style Power Game
After years of dominance from Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe, Netflix finally has a rival empire ready to ride alongside it — and it comes from across the Atlantic. With a movie, sequel, and multiple spinoffs in development, Peaky Blinders is evolving far beyond its original form, becoming Netflix’s answer to Sheridan’s sprawling neo-Western saga.
From Birmingham to Big Sky Energy
At first glance, Peaky Blinders and Yellowstone couldn’t be more different — one a gritty British crime epic set in post-WWI Birmingham, the other a modern Western steeped in Montana politics and frontier justice. Yet both universes thrive on similar DNA: family legacy, loyalty, betrayal, and bloodshed.
Like the Duttons’ Yellowstone Ranch, the Shelby empire is bound by land, power, and survival. And just as Taylor Sheridan built a storytelling dynasty around his cowboy clan, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is now doing the same — crafting a cinematic universe that will span new characters, eras, and locations.
The Expansion Begins: Film and Sequel Series
Following six critically acclaimed seasons, Knight confirmed the saga would continue with the long-awaited feature film “The Immortal Man,” starring Cillian Murphy reprising his role as Tommy Shelby.
Netflix has also announced a new sequel series introducing the next generation of Shelbys, along with two spinoffs exploring different corners of the criminal underworld. Together, these projects will form a sprawling franchise that mirrors the worldbuilding success of Yellowstone and its prequels 1883 and 1923.
The result? A shared universe that could redefine Netflix’s prestige drama lineup — and challenge Sheridan’s empire head-on.
Tommy Shelby vs. John Dutton: Icons Cut from the Same Cloth
While Yellowstone’s John Dutton (Kevin Costner) ruled the modern West with grit and vengeance, Peaky Blinders’ Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) commanded 1920s England with intellect and intimidation.
Both men are haunted leaders shaped by war, loyalty, and generational pressure. Their worlds are built on code and control — where every deal has a cost, and family always comes first.
Costner’s departure from Yellowstone leaves a legacy hard to replace, but Murphy’s continued reign gives Peaky Blinders an edge — especially after his 2024 Oscar win for Best Actor. His return in The Immortal Man ensures Netflix’s flagship antihero still has stories to tell.
Why Peaky Blinders Took So Long to Expand
Unlike Yellowstone, which launched its prequels in rapid succession, Knight took his time developing the Peaky Blinders universe. When the show premiered in 2013, it was envisioned as a standalone historical drama. Only after it became a global phenomenon did Knight and Netflix begin planning its expansion.
By allowing Tommy Shelby’s core story to fully unfold before spinning off, Knight ensured the foundation was solid — something Sheridan’s fast-growing slate occasionally struggled to balance. Now, with the groundwork laid, the Peaky Blinders universe is set to explode.
The Battle for TV’s Next Great Empire
Between Sheridan’s rugged American West and Knight’s dark industrial Britain, viewers are spoiled for choice. Both franchises showcase cinematic ambition, world-class performances, and themes of power, family, and identity that transcend genre.
As Peaky Blinders gears up for its next chapter, Netflix might finally have the global powerhouse it needs to challenge Yellowstone’s reign.