Pierce Brosnan, 73, has offered a glimpse of his shirtless physique in the first look at the second season of the Paramount+ drama "MobLand," weeks after reports emerged of Tom Hardy's departure from the series. The show is set to return on September 18, with new teaser images showing Brosnan's character, the patriarch Conrad Harrigan, being tended to after a scuffle.
The ten-episode second season will focus on the Harrigan family's struggle to maintain a united front against rising rivals threatening their criminal empire. Brosnan plays the ruthless patriarch Conrad Harrigan, while Helen Mirren reprises her role as the family matriarch Maeve.
Tom Hardy, who portrayed the character Harry Da Souza, a street-smart 'fixer' for the Harrigan family, has reportedly exited the show after filming its second season. According to reports, frequent disagreements with directors over delays in filming the third season led to Hardy's decision. His character was not written out of the second season's finale, leaving a narrative challenge for future installments.
Paramount+ is reportedly attempting to re-sign Hardy following significant backlash from viewers. Sources suggest the streaming service underestimated the audience's attachment to Hardy's character, with some indicating that the show's future hinges on his return. Discussions have taken place, but Hardy has not yet agreed to reprise his role.
Hardy is reportedly planning to take an extended break from acting beyond 2024 to spend time with his two children. His frustration with production delays, which he felt threatened his family plans, is cited as a reason for his departure.
The potential cost of rewriting the end of the second season to accommodate Hardy's exit is estimated to be in the millions, involving additional development, filming, and editing time. It remains unclear whether Hardy would film new scenes or if producers would rely on creative storytelling to explain his absence.
Reports from earlier in the year suggested strained relations between Hardy and co-star Helen Mirren during the filming of the second season, citing alleged tardiness. However, Mirren has publicly shown support for Hardy on social media.
This is not the first time Hardy has reportedly faced on-set tensions, with past reports of disagreements during the filming of "Mad Max: Fury Road" in 2015.
