Tom Hardy, the 48-year-old London-born actor, is once again at the centre of controversy over his conduct on the set of the crime drama Mobland. While reports that he was fired from the series have been denied, his return for the third season remains uncertain.
Hardy has built a reputation for portraying tough characters, such as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises and John S. Fitzgerald in The Revenant, but his off-screen persona has also sparked tension. Co-stars have described him with animal analogies: Michelle Williams called him a “puppy dog,” while Austin Butler likened him to a “grizzly bear” and Shia LaBeouf to a “gorilla on set.”
His early career saw him play a clone of Patrick Stewart’s character in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). Stewart recalled in his memoir that Hardy was “odd, solitary” and refused to socialise, spending time in his trailer with his girlfriend. Hardy later admitted he was “terrified” and “out of his depth” on set.
In 2012, during the filming of Lawless, Hardy and co-star Shia LaBeouf reportedly fought. Hardy claimed LaBeouf “knocked me out cold,” while LaBeouf said it was a gentle tussle. Director John Hillcoat confirmed the fight escalated to the point where both had to be restrained.
Hardy’s most notorious feud was with Charlize Theron on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road. Theron later admitted the tension was significant, though details of the conflict remain part of Hollywood lore.
