Peaky Blinders Fans Roast Barry Keoghan’s ‘Off’ Accent In New Movie — Expert Explains What’s Really Going On
The long-awaited Peaky Blinders movie has finally arrived — and fans are buzzing about the return of Birmingham’s most infamous crime family.
After six seasons of the hit series, Tommy Shelby’s story continues in the film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, bringing back familiar faces while introducing new characters to the gritty world of post-war Britain.
But while viewers have been excited to see the Shelby legacy continue, one unexpected detail has sparked a huge debate online.
Irish actor Barry Keoghan’s attempt at a Birmingham accent has divided fans — with some viewers claiming it sounds “off” compared to the rest of the cast.
Now, language experts are stepping in to explain why the accent might sound unusual — and why the famous Brummie dialect is notoriously difficult to master.
The Peaky Blinders Story Is Back
When the original BBC series ended in 2022, many fans wondered whether the Shelby family saga was truly finished.
The answer came in the form of a feature-length movie, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which continues the story several years after the TV show’s finale.
Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby, the calculating leader of the Birmingham gang who has spent years navigating politics, war and organised crime.
The film is set during the turmoil of World War II, bringing the Shelby family back into conflict as global tensions rise.
Alongside returning characters, the movie introduces a major new presence in the story: Tommy’s son, Duke Shelby, played by Barry Keoghan.
The Role Barry Keoghan Plays
Keoghan portrays Duke Shelby, a character who was first introduced in the sixth season of the original series.
In the story, Duke is revealed to be Tommy Shelby’s illegitimate son, born after a brief relationship Tommy had years earlier.
The character quickly becomes an important part of the Shelby family narrative, hinting that he may eventually inherit his father’s criminal empire.
For Keoghan, joining the franchise represented a huge moment.
The actor has already built a strong reputation through films like The Banshees of Inisherin and Saltburn, but stepping into the Peaky Blinders universe meant tackling a very specific challenge.
And that challenge came down to the accent.
Photo credit: Netflix / Peaky Blinders production stills
Fans Quickly Noticed The Accent
Shortly after early screenings of the movie began, social media lit up with reactions.
Many fans praised the film itself and the performances from returning actors.
However, some viewers quickly pointed out that Keoghan’s Birmingham accent didn’t sound quite right.
A number of comments online described the accent as “strange” or “distracting”, while others joked that it drifted between regional dialects.
Not everyone agreed with the criticism, though.
Some fans defended Keoghan, arguing that his performance captured the character’s intensity even if the accent wasn’t perfect.
Still, the debate quickly spread across social media and fan forums.
The Linguistic Reason Behind It
According to accent specialists, the issue might not be what people think.
Experts say the problem isn’t necessarily that Keoghan pronounces words incorrectly.
Instead, the difference may come from something linguists call speech rhythm, also known as prosody.
Prosody refers to the musical qualities of speech — things like tone, pacing and emphasis.
Even if an actor learns the correct vowel sounds for an accent, their natural speech rhythm can still subtly influence how they talk.
In Keoghan’s case, traces of his Irish speech patterns may still appear in the rhythm of his sentences.
That can make the accent sound slightly different to listeners who are familiar with the Birmingham dialect.
Photo credit: Netflix / Peaky Blinders production stills
Why The Birmingham Accent Is So Difficult
The Birmingham accent — often called the Brummie accent — is widely considered one of the hardest British dialects for actors to replicate.
Unlike accents that rely heavily on clear vowel changes, the Brummie dialect is defined by subtle elements such as rhythm, pacing and tone.
This means actors must capture not only how words are pronounced but also how sentences flow.
Even experienced performers can struggle with these nuances.
If the rhythm or tone is slightly different, audiences can immediately sense something feels “off”.
Because of this, the Birmingham accent has long been known as a tricky challenge in film and television.
The Film Is Still Winning Over Fans
Despite the accent debate, the new movie has largely been well received by audiences.
Many fans have praised the film for expanding the Peaky Blinders universe while bringing emotional closure to Tommy Shelby’s story.
The movie premiered in cinemas before heading to streaming, giving long-time viewers a chance to see the Shelby saga continue on the big screen.
For Keoghan, the role of Duke Shelby could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the franchise.
Some fans even believe the character could lead future spin-off stories set after the events of the film.
Whether or not that happens remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: the Shelby legacy is far from finished.
Key Points Summary
• Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man continues the story of Tommy Shelby after the TV series ended.
• Barry Keoghan plays Duke Shelby, Tommy’s long-lost son.
• Some viewers criticised the actor’s Birmingham accent online.
• Linguists say the difference may come from Irish speech rhythm influencing the performance.
• The Birmingham accent is considered one of the most difficult UK dialects for actors.
• Despite the debate, the movie has been widely praised by fans.