RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Media New Robin Hood Movie from Universal

Universal's Robin Hood movie is slowly getting its arrows lined up in the quiver.

The untitled production, which was at one point named "Nottingham," is casting its Maid Marian, with Cate Blanchett in final negotiations to play the part.

Russell Crowe will portray Robin Hood, with Ridley Scott directing the pic. Scott is also producing with Imagine's Brian Grazer.

The Robin Hood project has evolved considerably since its inception, when in February 2007 Universal won a heated bidding war to pick up a revisionist take on the legend with a script by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris.

The script was based on the idea of making the Sheriff of Nottingham a good guy. Crowe was attached to play the sheriff who was to have acted as more of an investigator trying to learn more about the thief known as Robin Hood.

Brian Helgeland came on board to rewrite the script in mid-2007 and seemed to have never left, so even as Sienna Miller was in negotiations to play Maid Marian in June 2008, the script was still undergoing major undulations.

The project was also in preproduction at the time, though it got pushed back due to SAG concerns, budgetary issues and script issues.

Most of those issues seem to have been ironed out, with the movie, now an epic adventure focused on retelling the origins of its key characters, prepping for an April shoot in the U.K. The movie, budgeted at around $130 million, is also taking advantage of U.K.'s tax scheme and a more advantageous currency exchange.

The script was based on the idea of making the Sheriff of Nottingham a good guy. Crowe was attached to play the sheriff who was to have acted as more of an investigator trying to learn more about the thief known as Robin Hood.

With production already rolling in the U.K., William Hurt is likely one of the last big names joining Ridley Scott's revision of the Robin Hood (current title) legend. HR reports that Hurt has joined the cast to play the Earl of Pembroke, William Marshall, a historical jouster of the era. He would be joining the feature cast which includes Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Vanessa Redgrave, Mark Strong, Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand, Alan Doyle, Oscar Isaacs and Lea Seydoux. Universal Pictures and Imagine hope to get this production complete in time for a debut next May with Ridley behind the camera, based on a screenplay by Brian Helgeland, Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris.

Plot Summary: Russell Crowe plays Robin of Loxley in an origin story of Robin Hood that hews close to historical facts of the period. Abandoned as a child, he finds community with the common people of Nottingham. Robin's abandonment and trust issues hamper his ability to fall in love. He meets his match in Marian (Blanchett), a strong, independent woman.

Plot Summary: Russell Crowe plays Robin of Loxley. Robin's abandonment and trust issues hamper his ability to fall in love. He meets his match in Marian (Blanchett), a strong, independent woman.

Surely you mean Cary Elwes and Richard Lewis.

"He doesn't have the old Robin Hood tights," says producer Brian Grazer. "He's got armor. He's very medieval. He looks, if anything, more like he did in Gladiator than anything we're used to seeing with Robin Hood."

The producer also revealed that Maid Marian (Cate Blanchett) will not be the normal damsel-in-distress as previously adapted films have shown but will come equipped with weapons in this modern version.

Maid Marian (Cate Blanchett) will not be the normal damsel-in-distress as previously adapted films have shown but will come equipped with weapons in this modern version.

Russell Crowe is reportedly taking his latest role to heart.

According to the UK's Mirror, the "Robin Hood" star gave generously to a crewmember after her car burst into flames on the way to the set.

Denise Yarde, a boom microphone operator, informed producers she'd be late to the set after the car went up in smoke. When she arrived, she complained that she'd have to buy a new one - reportedly earning a jibe from Russell.

"Well, I suppose it's OK for you, Russell," Denise reportedly fired back. "You've probably never had to worry about finding five grand for a new car."

According to the Mirror, the apologetic actor then gave her 5,000 pounds (approximately $8,100) to help pay for her new vehicle, telling her, "There you go. You can buy a 10,000 pound car now."

A source on the set reportedly told the tabloid that Russell was "known on the set for his generosity."

"It was a lovely gesture by Russell," the source added.

On Wednesday, Russell walked out of an interview with BBC Radio's Mark Lawson at the Cannes Film Festival when he was questioned if there was a hint of an Irish accent in his latest big screen character.

"You've got dead ears, mate. You've seriously got dead ears if you think that's an Irish accent," Russell said, followed by a British slang expletive.

The 46-year-old actor continued with the interview and then paused to go back to the accent question, saying, "I'm a little dumbfounded you could possibly find any Irish in that character. That's kind of ridiculous, but it's your show."

The interviewer then asked, "You were going for Northern English?"

"No I was going for an Italian, yeah. Missed it?" Russell said laughing.

Russell is then asked about a report that while filming 2000's "Gladiator" that he didn't want to say the movie's famous line, "I'll take my revenge in this life or the next," which promptly ended the interview.

"I don't get the Irish thing, by the way. I don't get it at all," Russell can be heard saying, while heading to the door.

I didn't think it was that bad. The paps are trying to make this bigger than it is.

He even joked that he was trying for Italian.

I think the interviewer was kind of trying to bait him too.

I didn't think it was that bad. The paps are trying to make this bigger than it is.

He even joked that he was trying for Italian.

I think the interviewer was kind of trying to bait him too.

Did someone say balls?

-prometheus

Odds are one or two of you fuckers will actually go and see that movie.

God damn it, Jerry.