Tom Hardy’s new British thriller, MobLand, has been picked up for a second season, thanks in part to the success of Liev Schreiber’s Ray Donovan. The series follows a violent conflict between London gangs, and after launching with 2.2 million viewers worldwide – the biggest premiere for a Paramount+ show – MobLand continues to build momentum with each episode.
The team behind MobLand is incredibly strong. Director Guy Ritchie is well-known for his successful gangster films, and Tom Hardy first gained recognition playing similar characters – he even portrayed both Kray twins. Although MobLand is a completely new story, it originally started as a potential spin-off connected to another popular crime show.
MobLand Was Originally Created To Be A British Spinoff Of Ray Donovan
Liev Schreiber delivers a standout performance in Ray Donovan, a crime drama with a truly compelling concept. He plays Ray Donovan, a Los Angeles ‘fixer’ who resolves problems for the rich and famous. From the start, the show promised to be gritty, visually striking, and surprisingly funny, and it delivered on all fronts, adding a fresh perspective to the genre.
The return of Donovan’s father from prison brought a compelling new dynamic to the TV show Ray Donovan, showcasing one of television’s most interesting crime families. The strong connection and on-screen chemistry between actors Jon Voight and Liev Schreiber inspired plans for a prequel series, The Donovans, which would have explored the family’s history in the criminal world.
| Comparing MobLand and Ray Donovan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Release Year | Seasons | Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Rating | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating |
| Ray Donovan | 2013 | 7 | 72% | 85% |
| MobLand | 2025 | 1 | 76% | 67% |
Originally, Guy Ritchie was going to direct a spin-off of the show Ray Donovan. Though that initial plan changed, the idea was reimagined as MobLand. While MobLand isn’t directly related to Ray Donovan, it draws more inspiration from British crime stories than Hollywood. It still shares a similar feel with the original concept and features a character—played by Tom Hardy—who, like Ray, resolves problems for others.
How MobLand Became A Massive Streaming Hit On Paramount+
Image courtesy of Everett Collection
When it first launched, MobLand quickly became a popular show on Paramount+. After a period of declining viewership, interest is picking up again as the second season approaches. A trailer for the new season, voiced by Helen Mirren, has drawn back viewers who didn’t see the first season, and the preview of Tom Hardy returning to his role looks good.
Despite some effective advertising and sneak peeks, the show’s popularity has really grown because people have been recommending it to each other. Now, with season 2 potentially expanding the story to Spain and turning MobLand into a global crime drama, the stakes are higher than ever, and thriller fans are discovering the show in anticipation of what’s to come.
Why Ray Donovan Should Still Be Considered One Of The Best Crime Dramas Of The Past Decade
While MobLand has a slightly better score on Rotten Tomatoes, Ray Donovan remains one of the most compelling and rewatchable crime dramas of the last ten years. It continues to be a high standard for the genre, even after all this time and despite changes to its planned spinoff.
Ray Donovan is a remarkably clever show that constantly challenges its main character, Donovan, with fresh, intricate cases. He’s forced to use his wits, sometimes in surprisingly unusual ways, like disguising himself or resorting to blackmail involving a web of connected individuals. What sets it apart from other crime dramas isn’t just the compelling lead, but the strong supporting cast, which adds depth and consistency to the entire series.
The power of Ray Donovan rested on Liev Schreiber’s compelling portrayal of a flawed hero, and MobLand appears poised to follow in its footsteps. Tom Hardy is ideally cast as Harry Da Souza, and the current TV landscape easily accommodates both MobLand and other strong shows about crime families.
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2026-03-21 18:59