FILM · 2013 · UK
Locke
19 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (19)
- #001
The film had an unusual shooting schedule. Tom Hardy filmed his role over six nights with three cameras running; because the film is shot in a single take, each night's work was filmed twice. The other actors spoke to Hardy by phone from a hotel room while he was on location. After the actors finished their roles, two more nights of filming were done.
- #002
The BMW used in the film was equipped with a "low fuel warning" that made a sound when the car ran out of petrol. This sound disrupted Tom Hardy's performance during filming; however, director Steven Knight kept the actor's irritated reactions in the film and instead replaced the car's sound with the phrase "you have a call waiting."
- #003
Tom Hardy agreed to star in this film in exchange for Steven Knight writing Hardy's miniseries Taboo (2017).
- #004
According to producer Guy Heeley, Tom Hardy was the only actor Steven Knight wanted for Locke because he was the only actor who could keep the audience's attention while driving a car for 80 minutes.
- #005
The license plate of Locke's car reads "Adios" (a play on numbers and letters), which means goodbye in Spanish and is a recurring theme in the film.
- #006
Director Steven Knight told the actors on the phone new things to include while shooting their scenes, to add color and keep Tom Hardy on his toes. For example, in some takes he told Ruth Wilson, who plays Katrina Locke, to play her character as if she wanted to throw Ivan out of the house for a while, and in the end she got that chance.
- #007
The film was shot over six nights with three cameras.
- #008
Tom Hardy had two further requests when accepting the role: a thick sweater and that he not shave his beard. Both reminded him of a ship's captain, fitting for Locke continuing on his way "in a storm."
- #009
Tom Hardy uses a Gal accent in the film.
- #010
According to writer/director Steven Knight, the name Locke is partly a tribute to the philosopher John Locke.
- #011
During Ivan's journey to London, 36 phone calls are made: 13 outgoing, 21 incoming, 1 ignored call and 1 call that goes to voicemail. At least half of the calls end with Ivan hanging up or Ivan having the caller hang up on him.
- #012
Looking at Tom Hardy's eye bags, you can see how tired and exhausted he becomes as the film progresses, as if it were a two-and-three-quarter-hour uninterrupted journey.
- #013
Steven Knight came up with the idea for the film in November 2012 and began shooting on 26 February 2013, an incredibly short turnaround for the industry.
- #014
While Locke (Tom Hardy) inspects the concrete pour he left to a subordinate, they discuss the grade of concrete they expect to pour the next morning for what they describe as the largest concrete pour ever done in Europe outside of military and nuclear projects. But they say they expect C6 concrete. Concrete rated below C10 is known as wet lean-mix concrete. Although weaker when it comes to concrete, it is still used for laying curbs and some house foundations, but it would in no way be suitable for such an extensive pour on such a large project. A foundation poured with some of the weakest concrete used in construction would lack the rigidity or tensile strength needed to support a massive commercial building.
- #015
In Locke's phone contacts there is a Derek Jarmyn, which may be a tribute to the late British film director and artist Derek Jarman.
- #016
The car Locke uses throughout the film is a BMW X5.
- #017
At one point Ivan mentions that he is in Luton. Tom Hardy had previously played the lead role of a criminal from Luton in Bronson (2008).
- #018
Tom Hardy (Ivan Locke) and Tom Holland (Eddie) later played major characters from the Spider-Man comics; Hardy played Eddie Brock/Venom in Venom (2018) and its two sequels, while Holland played Peter Parker/Spider-Man in numerous films beginning with Captain America: Civil War (2016). Both actors appeared in Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) but did not share any scenes.
- #019
The film's cast includes one Oscar winner, Olivia Colman, and one Oscar nominee, Tom Hardy.
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