Quick summary
- Pierce Brosnan has called the reported friction around Tom Hardy on MobLand “a storm in a teacup”, according to ScreenRant’s account of a Deadline interview.
- Brosnan says season 2 was tough mainly because scripts arrived late and the cast was “under the gun”.
- Hardy is confirmed to return for season 3, which Paramount+ announced in September.
- Season 2 ends on Friday, 20 November, and carries a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Tom Hardy MobLand drama of earlier this year was far smaller than the headlines suggested, according to one of his co-stars. Speaking to Deadline, Brosnan said the reports blindsided him, and that the real strain on season 2 came from scripts that kept arriving late, as ScreenRant reported on 14 November.
What Brosnan said about the Hardy reports
In May, it was reported that Hardy would leave the Paramount+ crime series after season 2 because of “friction” with showrunner Jez Butterworth. It was later clarified that Hardy had not been fired. By June, ScreenRant says, the conflict between the two had been resolved, and Hardy was confirmed for season 3.
Brosnan, who sat beside Helen Mirren for the Deadline interview, described the episode as “a real storm in a teacup”. He said he was surprised when he read the reports and wondered what was going on. He also described the cast as “close-knit”, and said he and Mirren had supported Hardy while the story played out.
The former James Bond star also spoke warmly about Hardy’s arrival on the show. Once he and Mirren were cast, he recalled, the open question was who would play Harry. When Hardy came on board, Brosnan said, they “couldn’t be happier”.
Why season 2 was a harder shoot
The more telling detail in the interview is not the row but the schedule. Brosnan said the second season was tough because scripts were coming in late and everyone was working under pressure. He contrasted that with the first season, which he described as tight, fresh and new, and said it can be hard to keep a show on track after that kind of start.
Brosnan did not suggest the late scripts caused the reported friction, and ScreenRant does not draw that link either. The two points sit side by side in the interview, and readers should treat them as separate.
The show behind the story
MobLand follows Harry Da Souza, played by Hardy, a fixer working for the Harrigan crime family in London. Brosnan plays patriarch Conrad Harrigan and Mirren plays matriarch Maeve Harrigan. The regular cast also includes Paddy Considine, Joanne Froggatt, Lara Pulver, Anson Boon, Janet McTeer and Toby Jones.
Season 2 sees Harry caught in a civil war inside the family, while new cartels and a corrupt detective try to bring the Harrigans down. The series premiered at the end of March 2025 to positive reviews. Despite the late scripts, season 2 sits at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, and ScreenRant’s own review gave the first four episodes a collective nine out of 10.
For more on his recent screen work, see our guide to Tom Hardy’s Capone, Venom and Taboo, or browse everything we publish under the Tom Hardy tag.
What happens next
Paramount+ officially announced season 3 in September, with Brosnan and Mirren returning alongside Hardy. Brosnan told ScreenRant that filming would begin this month, and told Deadline that the new season will run to 10 episodes, matching the first two. No plot details have been released. Last month, 101 Studios executive David Glasser teased that “someone will challenge” Harry.
Season 2 wraps on Friday, 20 November on Paramount+. Fans of the genre can find more in our TV & Dramas coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Was Tom Hardy fired from MobLand?
No. Reports in May said he would exit after season 2 amid friction with showrunner Jez Butterworth, but it was later clarified he had not been fired. By June the conflict was resolved.
Is Tom Hardy in MobLand season 3?
Yes. He was confirmed to return in June, and Paramount+ announced the third season in September, with Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren also back.
When does MobLand season 2 finish?
The season 2 finale airs on Friday, 20 November on Paramount+.
How many episodes will season 3 have?
Brosnan told Deadline that season 3 will have 10 episodes, the same as the first two seasons.
