Tommy RobustIt is oust from “MobLandhas apparently taken a more complicated turn as reports suggest that Paramount+ is now evaluating a possible replacement for him.
This comes amid reports that the actor has not been completely written out of the hit series and still has the chance to make a return despite tensions with the producer.
Tom Hardy was reportedly kicked off set after displaying an inappropriate attitude towards producers Jez Butterworth and David Glasser.
There is talk of replacing Tom Hardy on the A list on the “MobLand” surface
Hardy’s time on “MobLand” could soon be a thing of the past, for sure, amid reports that he was shown the way out.
There has been so much speculation surrounding his fate as smart-ass fixer Harry De Souza on the hit detective series, not least because of reports that he had a falling out with the producers.
However, the latest developments suggest that he is choosing not to return to the series after enduring a rocky second season.
According to Page sixsome A-List names have already been tipped to replace him, including Idris Elba and Colin Farrell.
The move further complicates matters since competing reports earlier suggested he “had not been fired” and that there were discussions about a return to the set, according to Variety.
Sources claimed that “the door is not closed” and that they are “creatively developing” a plan to keep him on board for season 3, which has not been given the green light.
Rumors of on-set tension continue to surface
One thing that seems to be recurring in all of this upheaval is that there was some form of tension on set.
According to reports, the 48-year-old actor frequently engaged in power play by refusing to leave his trailer for hours and had clashes with producers.
However, sources speaking to Page six note that the fault does not lie entirely with the British star.
Hardy’s frustration was reportedly fueled heavily by structural issues, including co-creator Jez Butterworth’s script pages arriving very late before filming, with the situation sometimes requiring actors to learn their lines that day. This would have led to delays and panic over studio budgets.
“You have an A+ writer who has a lot of power and has an ‘I don’t know where this is going’ methodology, and then you have an A+ actor who is used to knowing the full arc of a character in a story,” a source told the outlet.
“It was all very passive-aggressive and British. It wasn’t even a feud,” they added.
Helen Mirren shared post about Tom Hardy amid rumors of a rift between them
Amid the confusion, Hardy received love from co-star Helen Mirren, who plays Maeve Harrigan, the cunning and fearsome matriarch of the Harrigan crime dynasty, serving as the power behind the throne to her husband, Conrad Harrigan, played by Pierce Brosnan.
To seemingly quell the rumors surrounding the actor, she shared a photo of Hardy on her social media page and captioned it: “I love you now and always, Helen,” but that didn’t help.
Mirren was reportedly another person Hardy clashed with on the show, with several reports claiming she was frustrated with his on-set behavior and his “arrogance.”
A source who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter also alleged that Hardy, at one point, refused to leave his trailer, leaving Brosnan and Mirren waiting for hours before filming could begin.
Mirren’s latest post now appears to be her attempt to put to rest allegations of a feud between her and Hardy.
Guy Ritchie reportedly worked hard to keep Tom Hardy on the show
The show was co-created by Ronan Bennett and Jez Butterworth and is produced by David Glasser’s 101 Studios, in collaboration with MTV Entertainment Studios.
There is also Guy Ritchie as executive producer who directed several episodes during season 1 and this season.
However, it seems Paramount+ is desperate to find common ground with the actor, with Guy Ritchie willing to act as mediator to ensure things work out.
“I’m sure Guy is probably pushing David Glasser to make this work,” a production source said. Variety. “Guy enjoys working with Tom.”
Another source told the outlet that Hardy is “difficult” but is also a movie star, while others pointed out that tensions could have eased earlier than now, but insider leaks claiming he was fired have complicated the situation.
Tom Hardy’s exit would cost Paramount+ dearly
It remains to be seen how things will evolve and whether the two parties will manage to save their working relationship.
However, if Hardy insists on not returning to the series, sources say it could cost Paramount+ a significant amount of money, as they will have to refilm season 2 to explain his absence, mainly because his character is a very essential part of the series.
This could prove to be a daunting task since filming for the season has since wrapped, although a concrete premiere date has yet to be announced.
“The role is central to the story, so he can’t just disappear in season three – there has to be some sort of explanation for his absence,” a source told the outlet. “This means they will have to change the ending of the second series, which has only just been made, and this will cost millions in extra time spent on development, filming and editing.”
“It’s unclear whether Tom will return to film further scenes, or whether producers are simply going to have to be incredibly creative to wrap up the second series,” they added, stressing that, either way, they “need to start thinking about the overwhelming prospect of delivering the third series.”