Tom Hardy is no stranger to playing tough characters on the big screen, but he also proved that he could stand up for himself and his co-workers in real life.
The actor revealed that he got into a physical altercation with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the Oscar-winning director of The Revenant, during the filming of the 2015 epic.
The Revenant was a challenging project for everyone involved, as it depicted the brutal survival story of Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), a 19th-century frontiersman who was mauled by a bear and left for dead by his companions. Hardy played John Fitzgerald, one of Glass’ betrayers, who faced his wrath in the end.
The film was praised for its stunning cinematography and performances, but it also came at a high cost. Iñárritu insisted on shooting the film in remote locations using only natural light, which resulted in a prolonged and exhausting schedule.
The cast and crew had to endure harsh weather conditions, logistical difficulties, and frequent changes in plans. Many crew members quit or were fired during the production, and some even filed a lawsuit against the producers for unsafe work environment.
Hardy was one of the few actors who stayed loyal to Iñárritu’s vision, but he also had his limits. In an interview with Esquire, he admitted that he got into a fight with the director after defending the crew’s hard work. Here’s what the actor said about Inarritu:
“He was very difficult to work with. But you have to respect that he is absolutely brilliant. I have a very deep respect for him. He’s extraordinary. ”
The fight ended with Hardy putting Iñárritu in a headlock, which he claimed was a way of “easing tension” on the set. Hardy describes the fight as –
“I grabbed him, I cuddled him on the floor. It was playful but he was really angry.”
Hardy didn’t seem to regret his actions. In fact, to lighten up the situation, he also ordered T-shirts for the entire crew with a picture of himself choking out Iñárritu.
The shirts had the caption “Iñárritu Survival Tip #156: What do you do when you see a bear?”. Hardy said he gave them out as a joke, and that he and Iñárritu eventually made up.
Eventually, Iñárritu also commented on the fight with Tom Hardy. He told Vanity Fair that Hardy was “a beautiful human being” and “incredibly sensitive and lovable” despite his “inaccessible or difficult” appearance. He did not seem to hold any grudge against Hardy for the wrestling incident.
About The Revenant
The Revenant is a 2015 American action drama film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The screenplay by Mark L. Smith and Iñárritu is based in part on Michael Punke’s 2002 novel The Revenant, which describes frontiersman Hugh Glass’s experiences in 1823, and which is based on the 1915 poem The Song of Hugh Glass.
The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. It is also considered a remake of the film Man in the Wilderness (1971).
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