MobLand is one of Paramount+’s most successful shows ever, with season 2 on the way after filming has wrapped and a season 3 renewal already in the bag. But recently, there was a bit of a dust-up over conflicting reports that star Tom Hardy had or had not been fired for alleged behavior on set.
Some of this reporting involved claims that his co-star, the Oscar-winning Helen Mirren, took issue with Hardy especially, but now, speaking to Variety, she is publicly clearing the air about all of it. Here’s what she said when asked if she would work with Hardy going forward:
“Absolutely. In a f***ing heartbeat. I love Tom, I think he’s the most amazing actor,” Mirren said. “Different actors have different processes. I’ve learnt over the years that some people get to things faster. As long as what’s on the screen is fantastic, I’m totally chilled with however someone gets there. Tom is a very special person. I think he’s absolutely remarkable. My support of him is genuine and heartfelt.”
That’s about as emphatic as you get, and adds to the idea that Hardy probably will end up returning to the series, as Paramount almost certainly does not want to lose MobLand’s central star, whether that would involve writing him out or recasting, neither being attractive options.
In MobLand, Mirren plays Maeve Harrigan, matriarch of the Harrigan crime family, married to Pierce Brosnan’s Conrad. The pair got…more than a little unstable by the end of season 2, their antics dealt with by family fixer Harry Da Souza, played by Hardy, who effectively leads the series.
Hardy will be back for season 2, and unless we hear otherwise, season 3. Paramount wants all this to go smoothly, given the record numbers season 1 of the show put up, where MobLand put up 2.2 million viewers on its release date, the service’s biggest global premiere ever. It’s alongside 1923 and Landman as the biggest releases in Paramount+ history. And it’s not even a Taylor Sheridan series, miraculously. That would be Ronan Bennett of Top Boy fame.
MobLand has put up somewhat average reviews, a 77% critic score and a lower 67% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, but it has clearly found a fanbase. Putting Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren and Tom Hardy in a show together is a huge draw (though don’t forget the extremely talented Paddy Considine either).
In the wake of Mirren’s statement, perhaps we’ll get some confirmation about Hardy’s return soon enough ahead of season 2’s release later this year.
Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.