Tom Hardy’s 156-Minute Western Epic That Forced Him Out of a Major Superhero Role Is an Instant Streaming Hit

In December 2014, Tom Hardy was set to play the role of Rick Flag Jr. in Suicide Squad, one of DC’s most controversial blockbusters. Unfortunately, he had to drop out because of scheduling issues with another film that would eventually earn him an Oscar nomination. The film, while being a critical and commercial hit after its release, went on to earn three Oscars from twelve nominations and continued its winning streak in the following years on multiple streaming platforms globally.

Released in December 2015 and featuring Hardy as the main villain, John S. Fitzgerald, The Revenant is back on streaming charts once again, not long after being added to a popular streamer. As the new month of March began, the film, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, became among the most-watched titles on Peacock in the U.S., where it landed in February. As the primary antagonist in The Revenant, Hardy’s character is described as a ruthless, self-serving fur trapper driven by survival instincts. He brutally murders Hugh Glass’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) half-Pawnee son, Hawk (Forrest Goodluck), and abandons a maimed Glass, leading to an intense, revenge-fueled conflict.

Tom Hardy’s Epic Western Remains A Global Hit

As a partial adaptation of Michael Punke‘s 2002 novel of the same name, The Revenant’s screenplay was written by Mark L. Smith and director Iñárritu, detailing frontiersman Hugh Glass’s experiences in 1823. The movie was instantly a critics’ favorite upon its release and now holds a Certified Fresh 78% on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus praising “DiCaprio’s committed performance” and describing the masterpiece as “an absorbing drama that offers punishing challenges — and rich rewards.”

In addition, The Revenant received an impressive number of accolades, winning three Oscars and Golden Globe Awards, as well as five BAFTA Awards. Its Oscar Awards include Best Director, Best Actor for DiCaprio, and Best Cinematography. Also starring in the 2015 action drama are Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Paul Anderson, Kristoffer Joner, Duane Howard, Lukas Haas, Melaw Nakehk’o, Arthur Redcloud, and Brendan Fletcher, among others.

The Revenant streams on Peacock. Follow Collider for more news.