Tom Hardy has established himself among the A-listers, all due to his impeccable acting prowess, which is seen in several of his projects. After making his debut with Black Hawk Down (2001), he garnered widespread acclaim with Christopher Nolan’s Inception.
Given that the movie was a critical and commercial success, it also marked his transition from an emerging talent to a mainstream star.
However, the actor seemed to have an amusing misunderstanding about why he was cast in the film. This was eventually solved when the film director finally spilled the beans.
Tom Hardy Had Misconception About His Inception Casting
There have been instances in Hollywood when several fascinating stories have been curated behind the scenes. One such story involved director Christopher Nolan and actor Tom Hardy during the making of the 2010 blockbuster Inception.
Hardy, who played the role of Eames, the charismatic Forger, had a major misunderstanding about his casting in the movie. Known for his intense and transformative performances, his portrayal of British prisoner Charles Bronson in the 2008 film Bronson became a game-changer for his career.
Since the role was both physically and psychologically intense, he perfectly nailed it, thus significantly garnering acclaim for the same. Due to the same reason, he naturally assumed that his role in the 2008 film caught the acclaimed director’s eye, who then went on to cast him in the sci-fi movie.
As per AlltheRightMovies, the Mad Max: Fury Road actor often referenced his performance in Bronson to Nolan during the filming of Leonardo DiCaprio‘s movie thinking Bronson’s role was what led him to catch the Inception train. However, this misunderstanding was soon burst by the director himself.
Christopher Nolan Eventually Debunked Tom Hardy’s Misunderstanding
While Hardy was quite sure about his talent, he assumed that his 2008 film played a significant role in him landing Eames’s role. However, Nolan humorously debunked the same, expressing a different reason for his casting.
One day, when Hardy made yet another link with the movie’s casting with his 2008 movie, Nolan candidly responded via the same outlet,
To be honest, Tom, I’ve never seen it.
This revelation surely came as a surprise to the actor, but the filmmaker explained that his performance in Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla (2008) caught his eye. In RocknRolla, the 46-year-old actor played the role of Handsome Bob, a member of a group of small-time criminals in London. His portrayal showcased his unique blend of charisma, humor, and depth.
As for what drew Nolan to cast Hardy in the cocky yet lovable Eames, he told The Guardian,
He can inhabit a role. He saw the potential of the character right away and brought a wonderful cheeky quality to his performance.
In Inception, Eames plays a key member of Dom Cobb (DiCaprio)’s team. His portrayal as Eames naturally balanced the film’s intense narrative with light-hearted humor and charm. His in-depth portrayal contributed to the movie’s success, with the film garnering critical and commercial acclaim globally.
As per the Numbers, the 2010 movie earned a worldwide gross of over $825.7 million, earning four Oscars.
Inception is available on HBO Max.
