Tom Hardy & Pierce Brosnan Smash Records with ‘MobLand’ Premiere

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Over the past three decades, Guy Ritchie was the go-to director for gritty yet stylish British gangster films. Known for directing genre classics, he primarily focused on feature films (as well as music videos and occasional TV movies). Now, with his new series titled ““, starring , Helen Mirren, Anson Boon, and Pierce Brosnan, Ritchie has ventured into television directing – at least for two episodes thus far. This move seems to have pleased the team at Paramount as “MobLand” set a new record for the biggest series premiere on their platform, garnering 8.8 million views in just 7 days. This is a significant increase of 298% compared to its initial viewership numbers, according to Deadline.

Richie is recognized for crafting grumbly, mischievous characters and thrilling action sequences (as seen in films like “Snatch” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”), and the raw yet whimsical scripts of “MobLand” perfectly suit his style. In an interview with Newsweek, Pierce Brosnan discussed Richie’s unique approach to storytelling and how the content showcased his talents.

He initially provided me with small tasks: the opening scene’s work, my debut as the character while he exits his grand estate or mansion. [Ritchie] has a knack for finding humor in the ordinary and crude, so he instructed Conrad to give himself a good scratch, which he did. A close-up was then used to highlight this action.

The narrative unfolds around two powerful London crime dynasties, the Harrigans and the Stevensons, portrayed in the drama MobLand. Pierce Brosnan embodies Conrad Harrigan, the family’s patriarch, whose actions could potentially topple their criminal empire due to an intensifying conflict. In this dangerous game of power politics, Hardy’s character, Harry Da Souza, plays a crucial role by maneuvering through obstacles to safeguard the Harrigans and prevent a violent clash between the families from erupting.

The show, titled “The Series,” was developed and jointly written by Ronan Bennett. He’s the same writer who crafted the screenplay for Michael Mann’s 2009 crime drama, “Public Enemies.” Since then, he has also authored a new version of “The Day of The Jackal,” which is set for another season. Jez Butterworth, known for writing films like “Ford v Ferrari” and “Spectre,” is also contributing to the series’ script.

Paramount+ Is Becoming a Big Player in Streaming

Although the streaming platform could have been named “The Taylor Sheridan Playscape,” Paramount+ is making a stronger impact in the streaming market with fresh originals that aren’t just focused on Sheridan’s sepia-toned western dramas. With the release of MobLand, Ritchie and his team have successfully challenged Sheridan’s dominance, as the well-received show now competes alongside 1923 and Landman as one of Paramount’s top three most successful launches. While critics may find the plot points in the series somewhat predictable, the cast has delivered strong performances, as indicated by its respectable Rotten Tomatoes scores.

Initially, “MobLand” was derived as a spin-off from the Showtime series “Ray Donovan“. However, it was later reimagined as an independent show and shifted its platform from Showtime to Paramount+. The production of this series is carried out in collaboration with Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.

Sources: Deadline, Newsweek

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2025-04-11 03:02