Iconic British director Guy Ritchie starts production on new crime drama with Tom Hardy

A fresh gangster series for Paramount+ is officially underway, featuring Tom Hardy and a renowned British director at the forefront.

Guy Ritchie, the celebrated filmmaker known for Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, as well as The Gentlemen and its Netflix spin-off, will take on the roles of director and executive producer.

As reported by Deadline, production for the yet-to-be-named series has commenced in London.

Previously titled The Associate, the series will also star Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren from The Thursday Murder Club as Conrad and Maeve Harrigan, leaders of one of London's most formidable organised crime families.

Hardy will step into the shoes of Harry Da Souza, the unpredictable problem-solver frequently summoned to handle the Harrigans' issues, reports the Mirror.

The official synopsis teases an enthralling crime drama that follows "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."

In addition to his acting role, Hardy will serve as an executive producer alongside Ritchie, award-winning playwright Jez Butterworth, and film producer Kris Thykier, who is married to Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman.

Chris McCarthy, Co-CEO of Paramount Global, expressed his excitement in a statement: "Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren are masters at their craft and we are honoured to have them lead the cast for Guy Ritchie's new global, original series."

Ritchie, renowned for his high-profile feature films like Sherlock Holmes and Aladdin, has also made significant strides in the streaming television industry.

Taking on a producer and directorial role, he helmed two episodes of The Gentlemen, the Netflix adaptation of his own 2019 movie, which quickly climbed the ranks to become a smash hit for the platform and secured its renewal for a subsequent season.

Currently, Ritchie is working on additional film projects, spearheading productions such as In the Grey starring Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal, and Fountain of Youth featuring John Krasinski alongside Natalie Portman.

Having cemented his place in British cinema since the late '90s, Ritchie is celebrated as one of the nation's most esteemed contemporary directors.

Described by MovieWeb in their rundown of the top 24 British directors, they remarked: "[His first two films] were nothing short of iconic, with the former being a hilariously engaging crime comedy that relied on dark humour and impressive lead performances, and the latter repeating these elements with a brand-new setting and the incorporation of more international actors.

"Despite their small differences, both films would dominate the box office, along with dazzling critics from around the world."

While acknowledging his varying success in recent years, many agree that with The Gentlemen, Ritchie has realigned with his filmmaking prowess, and there's a hopeful anticipation that his upcoming thriller with Tom Hardy will ascend to similar acclaim.