This article contains discussions of rape.
Sam Neill’s Inspector Chester Campbell was a major villain inPeaky Blindersseasons 1 and 2, and given that Neill is a big-name actor, it’s surprising he left the show so soon.Peaky Blindersis a British crime drama series that follows the post-WW1 events of the titular street gang in Birmingham, England. Throughout six seasons, Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and the Peaky Blinders fight a number of antagonists, both lawful and criminal, as they seek to expand their empire.
One of those antagonists on the right side of the law is Inspector Campbell.Campbell is sent by Winston Churchill to clean up the streets of Birmingham, an assignment that puts him in direct conflict with the Peaky Blinders. Though he presents himself as a law-abiding authority figure above corruption,Campbell is nothing but a hypocrite. He’s also an extreme sadist and enjoys using his power to inflict pain. Sam Neill is best known as good guy Dr. Alan Grant in theJurassic Parkfilms, so his villainous turn inPeaky Blinderswas refreshing, even if he lefttoo soon.
Peaky Blinders' Creator Decided It Was Time For Sam Neill’s Character To Be Killed Off
Neill Reluctantly Accepted Campbell’s Fate
Often when big-nameactors leave popular TV shows, it’s because a better project has come along, but that wasn’t the case with Sam Neill’sPeaky Blindersdeparture. In fact, the actor didn’t want to leave, and while some thought it might have been because of his maligned Northern Irish accent, it as becausePeaky Blinderscreator Steven Knight knew Inspector Campbell’s time had come. He toldExpress:
I just think he’s brilliant, he’s such a great bloke and so nice but I thought this has run its course. He was in New Zealand and I was like I can’t just send him the script so I’m going to phone him up. So I phoned him up and said, ‘Sam, this character has been brilliant, he’s been fantastic.’ And he said, ‘I don’t want to die’ and so like a coward I said, ‘Oh okay, I’ll have another think.’
Whether feeling intimidated by Neill or guilt at writing him off the show, Knight actually considered the actor’s request. But ultimately, that would have come at the detriment of the series. Campbell had taken things too far in his feud against Tommy’s gang and as a villain in general, and Knight was right that the storyline had run its course. Knight said of breaking the news to Neill,
Sort of a week went by and I said, ‘It’s really got to [happen].’ Then as soon as it was definite he was like, ‘Absolutely, fantastic.’ He’s brilliant but yeah he didn’t want to die.
Polly Killed Sam Neill’s Peaky Blinders Character
It Was Her Revenge For Campbell Assaulting Her
Campbell’s sadistic nature would prove to be his downfallwhen his abuse of Polly Gray (Helen McCrory) makes an enemy of her. InPeaky Blindersseason 2, episode 5, Polly goes to Campbell to get him to release her son Michael (Finn Cole) from prison. Campbell takes advantage of his power yet again, and offers Polly a demeaning sexual proposition. She accepts, but Campbell still brutally rapes her.
Peaky Blinders Polly Spinoff: Confirmation & Everything We Know
Besides continuing in an upcoming feature film, the Peaky Blinder’s story will also be expanded through a prequel spinoff all about Polly.
Not only was this one of the show’s most disturbing scenes and reprehensible acts, but it was also a bad move on Campbell’s part, asPolly is out for bloodafter what he did to her. Though he wanted to think of Polly as “small and weak,” she’s anything but, and when it was time for Campbell to go, she knew it was up to her to do the job.
Last Episode
Season 2, Episode 6
In the season 2 finale, she corners Campbell in a phone booth and pulls a gun on him. He begs her not to go through with it, butin a moment of poetic justice, she fatally shoots him in the groinbefore striding out of the booth. It was the fitting end for such an evil character, andPeaky Blinderswas right to give that moment to Polly.
How Sam Neill Felt About Peaky Blinders After He Left
He Was Sad To Leave But Still Embraced The Show
When speaking toRadioTimes.com, Sam Neill echoes Steve Knight’s sentiment that he didn’t want to leavePeaky Blinders, saying, “I absolutely love Peaky Blinders. I think Steve’s writing is fantastic. I’m the biggest fan of Cillian and Helen and Paul [Anderson].”
Neill didn’t stop embracing the show after his departure either, and even attended the Legitimate Peaky Blinders Festivalin 2019 (viaI Am Birmingham). During a Q&A, when it was revealed that it was, in fact, Neill’s birthday, fans in the audience enthusiastically sang “Happy Birthday” to the actor, showing that he’ll always be part of thePeaky Blindersfandom.
Peaky Blinders
Cast
Peaky Blinders is a historical crime drama created and written by Steven Knight and starring Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, and Helen McCrory. The television show is based on the gang, Peaky Blinders, a group that banded together after the end of World War I.
