Tom Hardy will reprise his role as Harry da Souza in Season 3 of the Paramount+ crime drama "MobLand," the network confirmed Thursday. The announcement comes after months of conflicting reports regarding the actor's involvement and alleged on-set tension.
Joining Hardy for the third installment are his A-list co-stars Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren, who will also return to the series. Hardy has played the role of a fixer for the London-based Harrigan crime family since the show's first season. Brosnan portrays patriarch Conrad Harrigan, and Mirren plays his wife, Maeve.
Reports surfaced in May suggesting Hardy might be leaving the show. A report from Puck News at the time indicated that Hardy had clashed with producers, reportedly expressing dissatisfaction that the series, initially conceived as a vehicle for him, had become more of an ensemble piece featuring Mirren, Brosnan, and other cast members. According to The Hollywood Reporter, instances arose where Hardy allegedly refused to leave his trailer and provided script notes to showrunner Jez Butterworth and series creator Ronan Barrett for Season 2.
Sources described the situation as a "power play," with one insider telling an outlet that keeping established actors like Brosnan and Mirren waiting was "career suicide."
Amidst the rumors of friction, Mirren publicly supported Hardy. She posted a message on Instagram on May 28 stating, "Love you now and always." In a subsequent interview with Variety in June, Mirren defended Hardy, stating she would "absolutely" work with him again and acknowledging he has a "different process" but is a "very special person."
Jez Butterworth, who took over as showrunner for Season 2, was reportedly a point of contention. Insiders told Page Six Hollywood in June that filming had proceeded smoothly when Ronan Barrett was the showrunner. Tension allegedly arose with Butterworth, who was also involved in multiple other projects, including Sam Mendes' upcoming Beatles films. One source explained the dynamic as an "A-plus writer who's got a lot of power and who has a methodology of, 'I don't know where this is going,' and then an A-plus actor who is used to knowing the entire arc of a character in a story." The source characterized the situation as "passive-aggressive and British."
In July, The Hollywood Reporter stated that Hardy met with producers, including Butterworth, executive producer David Glasser, and executive producer and director Guy Ritchie, in an effort to resolve the reported issues.
The renewal for Season 3 comes ahead of the Season 2 premiere of "MobLand," which is scheduled for September 18 on Paramount+. A premiere date for Season 3 has not yet been announced.
Butterworth previously commented on the show's longevity in a June interview, expressing a desire for it to continue as long as it remains engaging for audiences.