MobLand Is A Big Reminder To Watch Tom Hardy's Underrated 10-Year-Old Gangster Movie (Its True Story Clearly Influenced The Show)

Paramount+'s new series MobLand is now three episodes into its first season, and the Tom Hardy gangster show is a perfect callback to one of his past performances. Tom Hardy plays Harry Da Souza in MobLand and is joined by A-list co-stars including Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. The series follows fixer Harry, who works for the Harrigan crime family in London. It is immediately clear that the ruthless gangsters are always looking for a way to expand their business, even if it means killing anyone who gets in their way.

Leading up to its premiere, MobLand received positive initial reviews, which highlighted the impressive performances by big-name stars and the perfect balance between humor and gritty violence. In keeping with this reception, MobLand also broke streaming records for Paramount+ with its first episode. While there are still weeks left to watch season 1 unfold, its run so far points the series in the right direction to receive a renewal, but it also serves as a great reminder to watch a 10-year-old Tom Hardy movie that bears some notable similarities.

Before MobLand, Tom Hardy Played Two London Gangsters In Legend

Hardy Portrayed The Kray Twins

10 years before starring in MobLand, Hardy took on a different role in a story similarly centered on the London criminal underground. Hardy stars in the 2015 movie Legend, which explores the lives and exploits of the Kray twins in the 1960s. Hardy plays both Ron and Reggie Kray in the gangster film, which received mixed to positive reviews upon its release. While critics and audiences found flaws in the presentation of the Kray brothers' story, Hardy's performance was lauded across the board.

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Legend picks up in the '60s with Reggie Kray already working with their gang, the Firm, and Ron Kray being held in a psychiatric hospital for schizophrenia. After getting Ron released, the two set about becoming the biggest players in London's underground, engaging with rival gangs along the way. The film examines their relationship with each other as well as how their crime business impacts every area of their lives, especially Reggie's marriage and Ron's mental health.

Hardy is absolutely phenomenal in the dual role, and the movie overall has a very similar tone to MobLand.

Legend is not shy about getting into the violence of their lifestyleand the consequences that the Kray brothers face.d Hardy is absolutely phenomenal in the dual role, and the movie overall has a very similar tone to MobLand. Legend does a great job of presenting the story of two of London's most notorious gangsters with pacing that will keep audiences enthralled throughout its runtime with a similar intensity to MobLand.

Legend's Kray Twins Feel Like A Clear Influence On MobLand

The London Gangsters Seem Like An Inspiration For The Show

MobLand is a fictional story that takes place in the present day, whereas Legend is a biopic set several decades in the past, but the new show does feel very informed by the 2015 movie. MobLand no doubt took inspiration from real-life London gangs. Stories of gang wars and dramatic deaths and arrests make for great television, so creating fictional versions of certain events or people makes complete sense. Given how important the Kray twins were in London's criminal underground during the 1960s, it seems only fitting that they would be one of MobLand's influences.

In particular, the Kray twins and their gang, the Firm, had a rivalry with another London group called the Richardson Gang, which feels very similar to the rivalry between the Harrigans and the Stevenson crime family. In real life, the Richardson Gang ruled over South London while the Kray twins had a lot of influence in North London, particularly in the East End. Their turf war was notorious, as were the Krays themselves. While the two were ultimately arrested, their celebrity status in London truly made them legends, which MobLand emulates through the Harrigans' status.

Tom Hardy Has A Long History Of Appearing In Gangster Movies & Shows

Hardy Has A History Of Portraying Ruthless Characters

Hardy was great in Legend and his performance of Harry Da Souza in MobLand is strong so far as well. It tracks that Hardy would excel in the role of Harry, given just how many times throughout his career he has played gangsters or other hardened, violent characters. In addition to MobLand, Hardy has appeared in fantastic crime shows like Taboo and Peaky Blinders which allowed him to show off his skills. Likewise, his movie credits include Capone, The Drop, Lawless, and RocknRolla, among other gripping dramatic roles.

Tom Hardy looking to one side in MobLand

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While there are definitely great comedy dramas, science fiction films, and superhero roles in his filmography, Hardy has certainly made a name for himself in crime roles. He excels at performing tough characters who have to make difficult decisions, whether on their own behalf or on the orders of others. Hardy's character is often able to balance the chaos around him and the ruthlessness of his business with a sense of self-assuredness, and this skill comes through very clearly in MobLand and Legend too.