Patrick Stewart Admits He Misjudged Tom Hardy After Star Trek: Nemesis: “He’s Proven Me So Wrong”

Sir Patrick Stewart, the iconic Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation, has revealed a surprising confession: he once believed Tom Hardy’s acting career would never take off. Reflecting on their time together on 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis, Stewart admitted in his 2023 memoir Making It So that he assumed Hardy—then a 25-year-old unknown cast as the villain Shinzon—would fade into obscurity. Instead, Hardy went on to become one of Hollywood’s most dynamic stars, leaving Stewart delighted to have been proven wrong.

A Rocky Start on Nemesis

Released in December 2002, Star Trek: Nemesis marked the final outing for the Next Generation cast. Directed by Stuart Baird, the film introduced Hardy as Shinzon, a genetically engineered clone of Picard. Despite its ambitious premise, the movie fell flat, grossing just $67 million worldwide on a $60 million budget and earning the dubious title of the lowest-grossing Star Trek film at the time.

The atmosphere on set was equally strained. Stewart recalled in his memoir that Hardy seemed distant and aloof during filming:

“Tom Hardy was an odd, solitary young man who kept to himself during the shoot. I tried to draw him out, have a chat, get to know him, but he was not forthcoming.”

After Hardy slipped away from the film’s wrap party, Stewart even turned to co-stars Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner and remarked, “And there goes someone I think we shall never hear of again.” With hindsight, Stewart now chuckles at his misjudgment: “It gives me nothing but pleasure that Tom Hardy has proven me so wrong.”

Hardy’s Struggles and Intensity

Hardy himself later admitted to feeling overwhelmed on set. In a 2002 interview with IGN, he described himself as a “poxy little actor” intimidated by sharing scenes with Star Trek veterans. The young actor’s solitary behavior may have been more about nerves than arrogance. Stewart, reflecting two decades later, acknowledged Hardy’s intensity: “I didn’t realize how deeply he was committing to Shinzon’s intensity, which probably explained his distance.”

The Meteoric Rise of Tom Hardy

If Nemesis was a false start, Hardy’s subsequent career proved nothing short of meteoric. After gaining traction in Layer Cake (2004) and transforming himself for the cult biopic Bronson (2008), Hardy broke into mainstream stardom with Christopher Nolan’s Inception (2010). Roles like Bane in The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Max Rockatansky in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), and Eddie Brock in the Venom franchise (2018–2024) cemented his status as a blockbuster force.

His versatility has also drawn critical acclaim: an Oscar nomination for The Revenant (2015), a haunting turn in Dunkirk (2017), and scene-stealing work as Alfie Solomons in Peaky Blinders. Fans and critics alike now celebrate Hardy’s ability to vanish into roles, his physical transformations, and his mix of raw energy and nuance.

Stewart’s Respect in Hindsight

Far from doubling down, Stewart has embraced his earlier misstep with humility. In a 2023 interview with Variety, he praised Hardy’s screen presence:

“Tom’s ability to command a screen, whether as a villain or a hero, is extraordinary. I couldn’t have been more wrong, and I’m thrilled to say it.”

Fans have also taken delight in Stewart’s honesty. A Reddit thread in r/StarTrek called his initial dismissal “the biggest plot twist since Shinzon’s clone reveal,” while others admired Stewart’s candor in admitting that even legends can misread young talent.

Nemesis Revisited

Though Nemesis remains a low point in the Star Trek film canon, it now holds a curious place in cinematic history: as the unlikely launchpad for one of today’s most respected actors. In hindsight, Hardy’s portrayal of Shinzon shows flashes of the intensity and immersion that would later define his career.

For Stewart, Hardy’s success is more than a correction of his youthful doubt—it’s a source of joy. “It gives me nothing but pleasure,” he wrote, “that Tom Hardy has proven me so wrong.”