MobLand (2025)

MobLand (2025) is a gritty, British crime‑drama TV series created by Ronan Bennett, which premiered globally on Paramount+ on March 30, 2025 . Spanning 10 episodes, each running between 41–59 minutes, the show follows the volatile struggle for power within two of London’s deadliest crime families.

🕵️ Premise & Plot

Set amid the cold streets of London, MobLand centers around:

• The Harrigan family, led by crime lord Conrad Harrigan (Pierce Brosnan) and his ruthless wife Maeve Harrigan (Helen Mirren).

• Their fierce rivalry with the Stevenson crime family, escalating into a full-blown gang war.

• Harry Da Souza (Tom Hardy), a cunning and composed “fixer” working for the Harrigans, navigating betrayals, violence, and shifting loyalties as he tries to protect the empire.

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza, the unflappable fixer whose calm and collected nature belies a deadly competence.

• Pierce Brosnan as Conrad Harrigan, the patriarch whose Irish accent—though controversial—anchors the role of a family man turned crime lord.

• Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan, a chilling presence of power and ambition; Mirren described the role as “liberating” and compared her character to Lady Macbeth without guilt.

• Supporting cast includes Paddy Considine, Joanne Froggatt as Harry’s wife Jan, Lara Pulver, Mandeep Dhillon, Jasmine Jobson, Toby Jones, Janet McTeer, and more.

🎥 Production & Creative Team

• Originally announced in February 2024 as The Donovans, a Ray Donovan spin-off, the project was reworked and retitled MobLand by October 2024.

• Filming occurred in London from November 2024 to March 2025. Despite production hurdles—such as on-set theft and a bankrupt set company—Tom Hardy stepped in to help keep morale and payment afloat.

• The series was helmed by Guy Ritchie, Anthony Byrne, Daniel Syrkin, and Lawrence Gough, with a writing team led by Bennett and Jez Butterworth.

🎼 Music & Themes

• Score composed by Ilan Eshkeri and Matt Bellamy (of Muse), creating a dark, pulsating atmosphere appropriate for London’s criminal underbelly.

• Features an overture by Fontaines D.C. with the song “Starburster” as the opening theme, and includes iconic tracks like The Prodigy’s “Firestarter” and “Breathe”.

📺 Reception & Future

• Record-breaking premiere: Over 2.2 million viewers tuned in globally for the first episode, marking Paramount+’s largest series launch ever.

• Critical reception is generally positive:

  • Rotten Tomatoes: 76% approval from critics; Popcornmeter: 77%.

  • Metacritic: Score of 59/100, indicating mixed to average reviews.

• Praised for its fast‑paced direction, dark humour, and especially Tom Hardy’s magnetic performance.

• Speculation about a second season is high. Hardy expressed interest in expanding internationally, exploring criminal networks across Europe and beyond. Producers hint that the cast may return, though no official renewal is confirmed.

🔍 Why MobLand Stands Out

• Star-studded performances: Mirren and Brosnan offer chilling, ruthless takes on crime drama staples; Hardy brings fresh depth to the fixer archetype.

• High production values fueled by director Guy Ritchie’s stylized framing and Bennett’s gritty writing.

• Cultural relevance: The show spotlights complex female roles (Maeve Harrigan) and reflects modern dynamics of criminal empires with moral ambiguity.

• Soundtrack synergy: From Muse‑styled scoring to The Prodigy throwbacks, the music enhances the dramatic tension.

🎥 Complete First Season

All 10 episodes of Season 1 are now streaming weekly and available in full on Paramount+, concluding the initial arc on June 1, 2025.

📌 Final Verdict

MobLand carves its niche in the crowded gangster-drama landscape through stellar acting, tight pacing, and thematic ambition. It honors genre conventions while subverting them—with strong characters, moral complexity, and a soundtrack that hits hard. Whether you’re drawn to Tom Hardy’s brooding hero or Helen Mirren’s psychopathic matriarch, it offers a compelling descent into organized crime—and leaves you wanting more.