Why play one role when you can play two? In the next demonstration of Tom Hardy’s formidable acting prowess, the Londoner plays not one but two Kray brothers in Legend. The film's stylish new poster, making its world premiere here, eschews its stars handsome visage (in either of his guises) and plumps instead for a smartly illustrative approach. Click on it for a closer look.
For a time in the ‘50s and ‘60s, Ronnie and Reggie Kray ruled East London with fists, pistols and pure, simple intimidation. Their gang, the unimaginatively-named but viciously effective The Firm, took control of the shadowy underworld and carried out armed robberies, arson, racketeering, assaults and murder.
LA Confidential’s Brian Helgeland is piloting us through this crime arena. Legend dips into the dark underbelly of the swinging ‘60s, when sharp-suited gangsters warred for turf and control, and innocent people were caught in the middle of the conflict, although criminals like Ronald and Reginald Kray liked to claim they only went after the competition.
Emily Browning, David Thewlis, Christopher Eccleston, Taron Egerton, Tara Fitzgerald and Chazz Palminteri fill out the main cast for the film, with Legend to arriving September 9. For more on its lead actor, check out Empire**’s handy guide to the Tom Hardyverse to date here.