UPDATED: Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan have officially signed on to star in the Paramount+ series from Guy Ritchie and Ronan Bennett.
It was previously reported that the trio were in final negotiations to join the show. The project had initially been developed with the title “The Donovans,” with plans to function as an across-the-pond spin-off of the Showtime series “Ray Donovan,” which was led by Liev Schreiber for seven seasons and a film adaptation. However, it has been reworked into a standalone series with no connections to that franchise. It was also previously reported that it was filming under the working title “The Associate,” but that is no longer the case.
Production is now underway in London, with the untitled show slated to debut in 2025 on Paramount+ with Showtime. The role reunites Hardy and Ritchie, who previously worked together on the 2008 film “RocknRolla.” It also keeps Mirren in business with Paramount, as she currently stars in Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” prequel “1923.”
The official series description states that the show is “centered around two warring families based in London whose enterprises stretch all corners of the globe and the fiercely loyal ‘fixer’ charged with protecting one of them at all costs.”
Hardy will play Harry Da Souza, described as “a professional conciliator on behalf of the Harrigan family.” Brosnan will play Conrad Harrigan, “the head of a very successful Irish crime family based out of London for whom Harry works.” Mirren will play Maeve Harrigan, Conrad’s wife and the Harrigan family matriarch.
“Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren are masters at their craft and we are honored to have them lead the cast for Guy Richie’s new global, original series,” said Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global Co-CEO and President/CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. “Guy, Jez Butterworth and Ronan Bennett’s creative prowess, coupled with these gifted actors, is the perfect recipe for what we believe will be the next brand defining series for Showtime on Paramount+”
Hardy is repped by Range Media, United Agents, and Sloane Offer. Brosnan is repped by CAA, Viewpoint and Hansen Jacobson. Mirren is repped by CAA.
The one-hour gangster drama series comes from Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios. Bennett is fully writing the series and Ritchie will direct. Both also serve as executive producers, alongside Keith Cox, Nina L. Diaz, David C. Glasser, Jez Butterworth, Kris Thykier, Ivan Atkinson, Tom Hardy, Dean Baker, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, and Bob Yari.
“The firepower on and off the screen in this new Guy Ritchie crime series will deliver exactly what audiences expect from Paramount + with Showtime: high-caliber acting, high-impact storylines, and high-level production from some of the best in the business,” said Jeff Grossman, executive vice president of programming for Paramount+.
Bennett is the creator of the British crime series “Top Boy” and has written novels including “The Catastrophist,” “Overthrown by Strangers” and “Havoc, in Its Third Year,” as well as the screenplay for the Michael Mann feature “Public Enemies.” He also produced and wrote Sky and Peacock’s upcoming series adaptation “The Day of the Jackal,” starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch.
This represents Ritchie’s latest television project after creating the Netflix series “The Gentlemen,” starring Theo James. An adaptation of his 2019 crime feature of the same name, the series has been renewed for a second season after debuting on the streamer this spring. He has also directed features such as this year’s “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” and “Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant,” “Snatch,” “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and Disney’s live-action “Aladdin.”
From Variety US