As Charles Bronson for Nicolas Winding Refn, Bane for Chris Nolan, a Bondurant brother for John Hillcoat and an MMA fighter for Gavin O'Connor, if there's one thing that defines most of Tom Hardy's roles in his meteoric rise, it's pure masculinity. That doesn't look to be changing any time soon as he gears up to star George Miller's "Fury Road," but color us surprised as hell to hear that the actor's now set to team with playwright Brett C. Leonard for upcoming stage musical, "Harold's Harem."
Fear not, though, as the production isn't exactly going to be costumes and wigs with the actor showcasing his high range. Rather, Hardy describes it as a "crazy piece of work" with his leading character "a cross between two guys Robert De Niro has played in Martin Scorsese films, 'The King Of Comedy' and 'Taxi Driver.’ Think of 'Taxi Driver' as a Bollywood movie and 'Harold’s Harem' is somewhere where all those meet."
"It’s not a traditional musical," Hardy added, comparing the story to that of Tony Kushner's "Caroline, Or Change," which notably combined spirituals, blues, Motown, classical music, Jewish klezmer and folk music for the Louisana-set Civil Rights movement tale centering on a black maid, Caroline Thibodeaux, working for a Jewsh family.
Hardy and Leonard (who also writes and produces the HBO series "Hung") previously teamed in Chicago for the Phillip Seymour Hoffman-helmed play "The Long Red Road," however, there's no word yet on which side of the Atlantic the duo are looking to premiere their work. Hardy in a Scorsese-meets-Bollywood stage musical? Sign us up. [DailyMail]
