Tom Hardy Was Never Fired From MobLand and Producers Want Him Back for Season 3

The story everyone thought they had figured out just got a lot more complicated. A week after reports spread that Tom Hardy had been pushed out of MobLand ahead of its third season, new information has emerged that contradicts that narrative entirely.

Sources close to the Paramount+ production have confirmed to Variety that Hardy was never formally dismissed from the show, and that discussions about his return are ongoing.

“Tom was not fired, the door is not closed for Season 3, and things are being worked through creatively,” a source close to production said. That single statement does a lot of heavy lifting, essentially walking back what had become a week-long media spiral over the exit of the Venom and Peaky Blinders actor from one of streaming’s buzziest crime dramas.

How the Rumors Started

Reports first emerged last week that Hardy would not be returning for Season 3 after an alleged falling out between the actor, showrunner Jez Butterworth, and executive producer David C. Glasser.

The story gained traction quickly, with claims of on-set friction and tardiness circulating across multiple entertainment outlets. Reports also alleged that Paramount ultimately decided to drop Hardy from Season 3 after Butterworth threatened to quit the series.

According to Puck’s Matthew Belloni, Hardy allegedly had friction with producers, including Butterworth and Glasser, and was reportedly unhappy that the series was shifting toward an ensemble-driven production rather than remaining Harry-centric.

Hardy also allegedly had a contractual option allowing him to exit before a third season if he chose to. None of those early reports, however, translated into an official firing, and that distinction, sources now say, matters.

What Actually Happened Behind the Scenes

The cause of the fallout is a combination of factors, including Hardy’s reported tardiness on set and his insistence on rewriting portions of the script. That alone would be enough to create tension on any production. But sources suggest the situation was more layered than a simple clash of egos.

Hardy was reportedly displeased because Butterworth was delivering scripts late, sometimes just a week before shooting, which clashed with the actor’s desire to prepare thoroughly for his role. One source noted simply, “Tom likes to prepare.” Butterworth was also absent from the set, so he could not address script concerns as they arose.

When other directors stepped in, and Hardy requested script changes, resolving it became more difficult. “Often his ideas are very sound,” one source said. “And he wants them taken seriously. Jez kind of hasn’t got the time to deal with those notes, so it becomes problematic.” That disconnect, repeated across an entire season of production, appears to be at the core of why things broke down.

Beyond MobLand, Butterworth has been managing an unusually heavy workload, including another Paramount+ series, The Agency, as well as Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopics. A second source was blunt about it: “I think Jez is basically spread too thin. He’s taken on too many jobs.”

Guy Ritchie May Be the Key

Through all of this, one name keeps coming up as the person most invested in keeping Hardy: director and executive producer Guy Ritchie. “I’m sure Guy is probably pushing David Glasser to make it work,” a production source told Variety. “Guy likes working with Tom.”

Ritchie, who directed multiple episodes across both seasons, has a working relationship with Hardy that predates MobLand and appears to carry real weight in shaping the production’s next steps.

Executive producer David Glasser is reportedly open to meeting with Hardy, and Paramount is attempting to set up a formal sit-down to resolve the outstanding issues between the actor and the production team. Whether those conversations lead somewhere productive remains to be seen.

The Season 3 writers’ room is already in place, with plans to begin filming later this year. As of now, the writers are moving forward without Hardy specifically in mind, and the show is reportedly looking at performers in his age range as potential replacements. A positive outcome from a meeting between Hardy and the producers could significantly change that trajectory.

Where the Show Stands Now

MobLand is built around Hardy’s character, Harry Da Souza, a fixer working within a British crime dynasty headed by Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren. The show, co-created by Ronan Bennett and Jez Butterworth and produced by David Glasser’s 101 Studios alongside MTV Entertainment Studios, became one of Paramount+’s most-watched titles after its Season 1 debut in 2025.

Season 2 has wrapped production but has not yet launched, while Season 3 was set to begin production this fall, with Hardy reprising his role as Da Souza. Reports also noted that Mirren and Brosnan were frustrated with Hardy at points during production, though sources indicated there is no permanent friction among the main cast members.

There have been no public statements from Hardy, Butterworth, Glasser, or any of the other prominent names involved. For now, the most anyone can say with confidence is that the door hasn’t closed, and that the people with the most to lose from Hardy’s absence appear to know it.