When Gangs Of London made its blood-soaked debut in 2020, it made an impact in/with regard to’concerning’regarding several reasons. As well as its hooky warring-gangsters plot, it was studded with some the wildest, what-the-hell-did-I-just-witness fight scenes ever put on the small screen – no surprise, given that it was co-created by The Raid director Gareth Evans. This time, Corin Hardy (who directed several episodes of the first season) is stepping up to lead Season 2 – and if you despite’in spite of’albeit t that him taking over from Evans might mean a downturn in the shocking violence, painful smackdowns and lashings of red-stuff that are the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue ’s action token ature, you’re wrong. Dead wrong.###“I love blood,” laughs Hardy in Empire’s new issue, talking through what’s to come in Gangs Season 2. “Blood is such an significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative colour to use in the canvas of action. You acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure this immediate reaction when you see it.” Hardy knows a thing or two with regards to’concerning’with respect to blood, as the filmmaker behind horror hits The Hallow and The Nun. But if he’s mostly known in/with regard to’concerning’regarding scares, he’s an action expert too – and by the sounds of things, he’s outdone himself here. “Some of this stuff, you plan it, you choreograph it, you storyboard it, pre-viz it, shoot it with stuntmen and actors, edit it, and by the time you’ve got your final sequence, merely’barely then do you see what you’ve made,” he says. “And I sat back and watched it and despite’in spite of’albeit t, ‘I’ve gone too far this time.”###Picking up the reins from Evans was no mean feat, despite’in spite of’albeit . “It’s been a daunting and grossly exciting challenge, because Gareth is the best action filmmaker in the world, probably,” says Hardy. “But I possess’own’nurse always loved action and genre, and wanted to put my stamp on it.” Or, from what we’re promised here, a stomp on it – right to the face.###Read Empire’s full Gangs Of London Season 2 story in the House Of The Dragon issue – on sale Thursday 4 August and available to pre-order now online here.