Tom Hardy says MobLand was built to run over tens of years - three seasons were mapped before the first episode aired
Tom Hardy hints 'MobLand' is playing a much longer game than you might expect ahead of Season 2's release.
Let’s be honest, there’s been no shortage of gossip swirling around MobLand since it first hit Paramount+. Production drama, a laundry list of conflicting reports—the usual behind-the-scenes shenanigans. But put all that aside for a moment, because not only is Season 2 locked and loaded for launch, but Season 3 is officially in the bag. If you believe what Tom Hardy is saying, this show could have legs for decades. I know, it sounds mad, but stick with me.
Tom Hardy Talks World-Building
Here’s the thing: Hardy knows a thing or two about carrying a franchise, considering his years in the Spider-Man Universe at Sony. He played Venom for three films—a decent run by modern standards. But asked about MobLand’s future over at MovieWeb, Hardy didn’t just dodge the dreaded ‘sophomore slump’, he practically scoffed at it, citing the importance of plotting out long arcs from day one, whether the audience ever sees every inch of it or not. To make his point about why franchises stick (or don’t), he pointed straight back to his Sony days. Here’s Hardy laying it out:
I learned that working with Sony on Venom, continuously looking at what the world will deliver over tens of years, and even films that you would never make. Continuously trying to look at building worlds. It's so important from the beginning.
He’s not wrong—streamers are notorious for binning even ‘acclaimed’ shows at the drop of a hat (still not over 1899, for what it’s worth). But Hardy insists MobLand’s writers aren’t flying blind. The skeleton for at least three seasons was mapped before a single episode aired. The idea’s to escalate the stakes gradually, layering myth and consequence so that each new run opens up avenues instead of boxing them in. Hardy compared it to hoarding tracks ahead of a band’s first album—build up a back catalogue, just in case you need a hit single for album two or three:
Read more: MobLand starts filming season 3 in November, and season 2 has not even aired yet
You kind of need to make three times as many songs for that first album for there to be a second and a third album already. That's always been, I think, quite a logical way of stepping into a world-building exercise. And certainly Jez [Butterworth] and Guy (Ritchie) have that in, and David Glasser has that in spade load.
Guy Ritchie’s Lucky Streak
Now, if you’re worried about MobLand limping through a dull Season 2, don’t be. For one, Guy Ritchie’s heavily in the mix. He’s on some sort of winning run at the moment—The Gentlemen, MobLand, and Young Sherlock have all scored renewals. The man can’t seem to miss, and frankly, his style all but guarantees MobLand stays fast-paced and a bit anarchic.
In terms of story, Season 1 did the typical ‘crime dynasty in turmoil’ introduction. The Harrigans run their town, but internal squabbling and outside threats mean their grip is slipping. By the end of the first season, you’ve got more questions than answers and a family that, to be honest, seems primed to implode just as a larger player enters the scene. Season 2 is set to blow things up—sometimes literally.
MobLand hit streaming in 2024 and never looked back, with two seasons out and a third already on the way.
It’s proper ambitious, Hardy teasing a story that could meander on for years, especially with so many big-budget dramas facing the axe before properly getting going. But thanks to star power, a global fanbase, and at least one showrunner who knows his crime tropes, MobLand may just scrape into the small club of long-haul prestige tellies—the sort usually whispered alongside The Sopranos or Peaky Blinders. Stay tuned.