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The real drama on MobLand might be behind the scenes. The gritty Paramount+ series about rival London crime families doesn’t lack for juicy storylines, but there’s also serious tension on set, according to recent reports. 

Tom Hardy ‘refused to come out of his trailer’ on ‘MobLand’ set

Series star Tom Hardy has clashed with producers and irritated his A-list co-stars, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren, by holding up production, an insider told The Hollywood Reporter. According  to other reports, he’s also tried to alter dialogue and provide script notes. 

“He refused to come out of his trailer for hours at a time,” the source said. “He kept the cast waiting, [which is] a power play. Keeping Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren and others waiting is career suicide, I would wager.”

Reports of Hardy’s antics were accompanied by allegations that the show’s producers were reconsidering his future beyond MobLand Season 2, which is due out later this year. The actor plays Harry Da Souza, a fixer for the crime family headed by Conrad (Brosnan) and Maeve Harrington (Mirren). 

Hardy likely to return if ‘MobLand’ is renewed for season 3 

However, reports that Hardy had been fired are not true, according to Variety. If MobLand is renewed for a third season, efforts are underway to bring back his character, who is central to the show’s appeal. 

“Tom was not fired, the door is not closed for season 3 and things are being worked through creatively,” a source close to production told the publication. And Hardy was a powerful ally in his corner: executive producer Guy Ritchie, who also directed several episodes of the show. 

“I’m sure Guy is probably pushing [producer] David Glasser to make it work,” a production source said. “Guy likes working with Tom.”

According to Variety, some of the blame for the on-set tension lies with MobLand co-creator Jez Butterworth. Butterworth was turning in scripts late, which annoyed Hardy, who wanted more time to prepare. He was also not present on set, which meant he couldn’t respond to Hardy’s feedback about the script. 

“Often [Hardy’s] ideas are very sound,” a source said. “And he wants them taken seriously. Jez kind of hasn’t got the time to deal with those notes, so it becomes problematic.”

Some directors are ‘intimidated’ by ‘Venom’ star

Meanwhile, Hardy didn’t work well with directors other than Ritchie. 

“He’s used to dealing with some of the best directors in the world,” the source said of the actor. “So when he suddenly has a jobbing TV director, he struggles and to a certain extent he can walk all over them because they’re intimidated by him.”

“He’s better behaved with Guy,” the insider added.

Sources also told Variety that while Mirren and Brosnan were sometimes annoyed by Hardy’s behavior, there were not specific conflicts between the cast members. However, Hardy is known for being somewhat difficult to work with, which led to clashes with Charlize Theron on the set of Mad Max. 

“Tom gets slightly lost in his own little world sometimes I think,” the source shared. “I don’t think he does it maliciously. I don’t even know if he particularly thinks he’s really doing it.”

MobLand is streaming on Paramount+. 

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