Watch Tom Hardy Times 2 in This 'Legend' Scene and See Why the Krays Always Got Their Way

In the crime thriller Legend, opening in select theaters this weekend, Tom Hardy takes on dueling roles as infamous London gangsters Ronald and Reginald Kray. The film is based on the real mobsters, twin brothers who ran roughshod over London’s East End during much of the 1960s, even linking their underworld act to Las Vegas (seen here in this exclusive clip, above, featuring Chazz Palminteri).

Directed by Oscar winner Brian Helgeland, we spoke with him in June about the film. He explained there are myriad stories surrounding the dastardly duo that can’t quite be confirmed — thus the “Legend” in the title. “I did an enormous amount of research before I wrote the script as far as meeting a dozen or so people who knew them,” he said. “And reading every book I could get my hands on — even the cheapest most dime-store book. It was interesting to see where they all overlapped.”

Also starring Emily Browning and David Thewlis, the film marks yet another project in which Hardy has completely immersed himself in his work — down to the fight scenes. On the morning the actor was to shoot a pivotal brotherly brawl, Hardy asked Helgeland (according to the director), “How many takes do you think you’re going to do?” Helgeland replied, “Why you want to know?” Hardy said, “Well, because we’re going to be really hitting each other. So I need to know so we can pace ourselves.” Helgeland: “In that case I would say three takes.” Hardy goes, “Oh good! Three takes we can go for it on each take.” It was three takes and they really hit each other, said the director. “I’m terrified Tom’s going to have his nose broken in the middle of a take.”