When I watchedStar Trek: Nemesisn 2002, I really had no idea I was witnessing the birth of a star in Tom Hardy. Directed by Stuart Baird from a screenplay by John Logan,Star Trek: Nemesiswas the final movie starring thecast ofStar Trek: The Next Generation. The lowest grossing ofStar Trek’s 13 theatrical feature films,Star Trek: Nemesiswas also a bomb with critics and audiences, although theblame for its failure doesn’t fall on the shoulders of Tom Hardy, who played the main villain, Shinzon.
Shinzon was the malevolent clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) inStar Trek: Nemesis.Seeking revenge on the Romulans who created and enslaved him, and on the United Federation of Planets, Shinzon mounts a convoluted plot to install himself as the Romulan Praetor before attacking the Federation. ButShinzon has special enmity for Picardand the crew of the USS Enterprise-E. Ultimately, Captain Picard defeated Shinzon and saved the galaxy, with his clone perishing in the destruction caused by Shinzon’s own Thelaron weapon.
Star Trek: Nemesis Was Tom Hardy’s First Major Movie Role
Playing Shinzon was Hardy’s big break
Tom Hardy had roles inBlack Hawk DownandBand of Brothersin 2001 before he was cast as Shinzon, andStar Trek: Nemesiswas Hardy’s big break. When he was cast asCaptain Picard’s evil clone, Hardy had the benefit of joining the established and popularStar Trekmovie franchise and working with Sir Patrick Stewart, John Logan, who wroteGladiator, Stuart Baird, who directedU.S. Marshals,and Ron Perlman, who played Shinzon’s Viceroy.Shinzon, the main villain ofStar Trek: Nemesis, was meant to bea showcase role for Hardy.
Tom Hardy emerged with his career unblemished by Star Trek: Nemesis.
Unfortunately,Star Trek: Nemesiswas a disappointment that failed to find a wider audience or appeal to the coreStar Trekfanbase.Star Trek: Nemesisbombing ended theStar Trek: The Next Generationmovie franchise, and there were no moreStar Trekmovies for 7 years before J.J. Abrams rebootedStar Treksuccessfully with Chris Pine leading a new Starship Enterprise cast. However,I’m not surprised Tom Hardy emerged with his career unblemished byStar Trek: Nemesis.
Watching Star Trek: Nemesis, Hardy’s Star Potential Wasn’t Immediately Obvious
Star Trek: Nemesis wasn’t Tom Hardy’s best performance
The great performances to come and recognition that would await Tom Hardy weren’t immediately obvious fromStar Trek: Nemesis.Since Shinzon was Picard’s clone, Hardy needed to physically resemble Patrick Stewart’s Enterprise Captain, which resulted inShinzon being baldand wearing a prosthetic nose. Shinzon was meant to be as brilliant as Captain Picard and a formidable leader, yet Hardy’s clone was ill-defined and lacked the intended menace. To me,Shinzon comes off as petulant and incompetentas the leader of the Remans bent on destroying the Federation.Star Trek: Nemesis’subplot where Shinzon psychically violated Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) also did Tom Hardy no favors.
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In his memoir,Making It So,Patrick Stewart calledTom Hardy “odd and solitary"on set, but heacknowledged Tom’s acting talent. Watching Hardy perform as Shinzon, he doesn’t come off as Picard’s equal, although Tom does capably hold his own in his scenes with Stewart. But Tom Hardy’s volatility, unpredictability, and edge are bubbling underneath the surface, albeit hamstrung by Shinzon needing to be a fractured mirror reflection of Captain Picard.
Tom Hardy’s Career Is Probably The Best Thing To Come Out Of Star Trek: Nemesis
Hardy is a major Hollywood star today
Tom Hardy rose to greater heights afterStar Trek: Nemesisin 2002, and he quickly put Shinzon behind him. Certainly,working with director Christopher Nolan elevated Tom Hardy’s career to another level. Hardy stole scenes as Eames inInceptionbefore Nolan cast him asBane, the villain ofThe Dark Knight Rises.Becoming the burly Bane meant Hardy had the unenviable task of following the late Heath Ledger’s Academy Award-winning performance as The Joker inThe Dark Knight, but Tom wowed audiences with his powerful Batman villain. Hardy worked with Nolan once more inDunkirkas his career continued its hot streak.
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Tom Hardy’s brilliant performance inThe Revenantearned him an Academy Award nomination of his own. Nowa respected Hollywood A-lister, Hardy balances his choices between interesting and eclectic film and TV projects that showcase his talents likeLocke,Peaky Blinders,andThe Bikeriderswith major Hollywood franchises, such as playing the titular characters inMad Max: Fury Roadand Marvel’sVenomtrilogy. Tom Hardy’s roles tend to skew toward the villainous, and playing Shinzon inStar Trek: Nemesisdid kickstart him toward his destiny as an actor and movie star.
