
Tom Hardy is making headlines not only for his upcoming role in the gangster drama The Fixer but also for stepping in to help resolve a serious issue on the set of the show. The series, directed by Guy Ritchie for Paramount Plus, is a Ray Donovan spin-off featuring big names like Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren, but it faced an unfortunate situation when it came to paying the crew.
Helix 3D, the set construction firm hired to build sets for the series, allegedly failed to pay about 50 freelance workers, mostly carpenters, despite being paid by 101 Studios, the production company behind the show. The unpaid wages amounted to approximately £250,000 ($316,000). The workers were informed that they likely wouldn’t be paid before Christmas, leading to financial uncertainty, especially during the holiday season.
Upon learning about the situation, Tom Hardy offered to pay the workers’ wages out of his own pocket to ensure they could enjoy their holidays without financial stress. However, Paramount Plus and 101 Studios, once they became aware of the issue, informed Hardy that they would handle the payments themselves, dealing directly with Helix 3D. The production companies were reportedly outraged by the situation, as they had been unaware of the unpaid wages.
A union official from Bectu, representing the freelancers, wrote a scathing letter to Helix 3D, criticizing their lack of communication and transparency regarding the payment issue. Helix 3D, which is now reportedly in liquidation, was blamed for not foreseeing the financial troubles that led to the workers not being compensated.
In the end, Paramount and 101 Studios stepped in to pay the workers, avoiding the need for Hardy to act as a real-life fixer. However, considering Hardy’s talents, including his recent jiu-jitsu tournament win and secret rap career, it seems like he could’ve easily taken on the role of “fixer” in real life if needed!