Kray vs Kray: Movie hard man Tom Hardy tackles his toughest ever fight - against himself

  • Hardy plays both Reggie and Ronnie Kray in British gangster flick Legend
  • Film sees star brutally beaten up – after getting into a fight with himself
  • Brawl between brothers took days to film using several technological tricks
  • Hardy suffered for his art receiving real hits to the face during the brawl

By Chris Hastings for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 15:57 EST, 22 August 2015 | Updated: 18:01 EST, 22 August 2015

He may be the hard man of British cinema, but Tom Hardy has finally met his match on-screen.

His latest film sees the Mad Max star brutally beaten up – after getting into a fight with himself.

For the 37-year-old plays both Reggie and Ronnie Kray in the British gangster flick Legend. Our exclusive pictures reveal the jaw-dropping fight sequence, which required numerous technological tricks.

Scroll down for video

Tom Hardy is brutally beaten up – after getting into a fight with himself during the filming of Legend where he plays both of the notorious Kray twins

Tom Hardy is brutally beaten up – after getting into a fight with himself during the filming of Legend where he plays both of the notorious Kray twins

The brawl takes place in a London nightclub, and is just one of several scenes in which the brothers interact with each other on-screen.

Hardy and his stunt double Jacob Tomuri took it in turns to play both roles for the punch-up, which took five days to shoot.

Tim Bevan, the film’s producer, said: ‘In that scene every single trick that one could possibly use is being used. There are stunt doubles, there will be some split screen, there will be some motion control, and there will be some face replacement technology, it’s a very, very technical scene indeed.’

And it seems Hardy – who is famous for doing most of his own stunts – suffered for his art.

Hardy – who is famous for doing most of his own stunts – suffered for his art, receiving real hits to the face in the brawl

Hardy – who is famous for doing most of his own stunts – suffered for his art, receiving real hits to the face in the brawl

Legend, which is directed by Oscar winner Brian Helgeland, is the first film about the Kray twins (pictured are the real-life twins in 1965) since 1990

Legend, which is directed by Oscar winner Brian Helgeland, is the first film about the Kray twins (pictured are the real-life twins in 1965) since 1990

Stunt co-ordinator Julian Spencer said: ‘I told Tom and his double that I really wanted them to land these hits. All of the facial hits were real. They weren’t exactly punches but they were good banging slaps.

'They both ended up with bloody noses, cauliflower ears and black eyes.’ Legend, which is directed by Oscar winner Brian Helgeland, is the first film about the Kray twins since 1990.

Mr Bevan said he was initially worried that audiences would not be interested in another take on the story, but said he was convinced by Hardy’s insistence on playing both lead roles.

‘Tom worked out different make-up for both of them,’ he said. ‘He pre-recorded the lines of which ever one he was playing against. He then had them played back in his ear.’ In the movie, Reggie is portrayed as a ‘gangster prince’ – a smooth-talking heartthrob irresistible to women.

By contrast, Ronnie is played as a psychopath who is unable to control his violent tendencies and likes nothing more than a ‘shoot-out’. ‘Tom wanted a distinction between the two characters,’ Mr Bevan added.

Legend, which co-stars Christopher Eccleston and Colin Morgan, will be released on September 9.

Comments (46)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now