Peaky Blinders actor Finn Cole shared his disappointment upon discovering that his character, Michael Gray, would be the villain in the show’s final season. Michael’s growing resentment toward Tommy over being sidelined in business escalated after Polly’s death in season 6, leading him to fully turn against his cousin. Once a supporting protagonist, Michael became the final antagonist, making him one of the show’s most complex and intriguing characters.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Finn Cole admitted he was “gutted” to learn that his character would be the final season’s villain. He explained that this wasn’t the original plan, but various factors, including the pandemic and the passing of Polly actress Helen McCrory between seasons 5 and 6, led to changes. Cole believes the final season wasn’t initially meant to center on a Michael vs. Tommy conflict, but real-life events influenced its direction. Read his full comments below:
I remember talking to Cillian Murphy right as the world was shutting down, and he mentioned how he’d just read all the scripts for Peaky Blinders’ final season. And then everything changed due to the pandemic and the great Helen McCrory’s tragic passing. Was the final season always going to be some degree of Michael versus Tommy?
I can’t give you a definitive answer, but I don’t think so. With what had happened and the time that it took and certain actors being unavailable for different reasons, things had to change. Between seasons, I would see Steven Knight once or twice, and he’d tell me about the whole of the next season. He’d explain every detail in every episode, and it would blow my mind.Advertisement
Then, I’d see him two months later, and it’d be completely different. And when I’d actually get my hands on the scripts, it’d be changed again because that’s the brilliant mind that Steven has.
I think things did evolve for the final season, but in how I took on the role and how that role developed, we found an opportunity. Cillian said to me in season four or season five: “Tommy has all of these threats around him at all times. That’s the life that he leads. Some of them are these irresolvable dilemmas, one of which is his addiction issues.
And the other one is that the next generation is going to come through. For people like him, the next generation are the most dangerous people because they come with new ideas, and that’s scary to him.”
In season five, there’s a scene where Michael pitched this fantastic idea to Tommy about how to run the business and how he could take a backseat so Michael could take over. And it was a brilliant idea. It was faultless. There was no reason why Tommy should turn it down apart from the fact that he’s threatened by the next generation’s bigger and better moves. So that was always in the back of Cillian’s mind when we were working together, and that seemed to come to fruition in season six.
In all honesty, I was gutted because I was such a fan of the gang and that world. So I was like, “Oh, damn, I’m going to be a villain.” But once I embraced it, I had a lot of fun, and we were able to really take it to the next level. Now, what’s really cool is people send me all these threats and are really nasty to me. I actually really like it.
People on the street will come up to me and be like, “I love you, but I hate you.” And that’s the biggest compliment that we can get as actors. It means that we did our job right, and I’m looking forward to playing another villain again, I must say.
Tension between Michael and Tommy was evident throughout season 5, with Michael feeling increasingly sidelined in business while Tommy remained wary of a potential coup. However, Polly acted as a mediator between them. After Helen McCrory’s passing and Polly’s subsequent death in the show, it was natural for Michael to blame Tommy and turn against him. Had McCrory been part of Peaky Blinders season 6, Michael’s storyline might have taken a completely different path.
It’s hard to say for certain what creator Steven Knight originally planned for Michael and the final season. The three-year gap between seasons 5 and 6, caused by the pandemic, may have also influenced the show’s direction. Ultimately, Michael’s arc and his rivalry with Tommy—culminating in Tommy executing him in the finale—felt like a natural fit for his character. Given their tension, it seemed inevitable that one of them wouldn’t make it out alive.
Read More: Steven Knight Hopes To Have The ‘Peaky Blinders’ Film Ready By The End Of 2025
Michael was one of Peaky Blinders’ most complex characters, and while he ultimately betrayed the Shelbys, his motives were clear. His ambition, fueled by Gina and his growing role in U.S. organized crime, clashed with Tommy’s distrust. After Polly’s death, Michael’s fate was sealed, fulfilling her prophecy that only one of them would survive.
Though his downfall was fitting, his role as the final villain doesn’t define the broader story. The upcoming film, The Immortal Man, will introduce new threats while exploring the impact of Michael’s death—possibly foreshadowing Tommy’s own fate.
The Immortal Man is just one of several Peaky Blinders projects in development, alongside two spinoffs—a Boston-set series decades later and a Polly prequel. Michael’s unexpected villain arc added a dark twist to the show, hinting that future installments may follow suit.
Though Cole was initially disappointed with Michael’s fate, it gave his character a fitting end while reinforcing Tommy’s ruthless grip on power. With the series finale setting up key conflicts, Michael’s impact will likely echo in the upcoming film, even if he doesn’t appear.
Source: THR