ROTTEN TOMATOES: Russell Crowe As Good Nottingham vs. Evil Robin Hood!

Russell Crowe As Good Nottingham vs. Evil Robin Hood!

by Scott Weinberg | February 02, 2007

Last time we were offered a big-budget "Robin Hood" movie, it starred Kevin Costner and his ill-fitting accent. But now comes a 'revisionist' take on the classic tale, only this time the Sheriff of Nottingham will get to be the good guy. Oh, and he'll be played by Russell Crowe.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal won a heated bidding war between New Line and Warner Bros., but it was Uni that got the right to pay Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris a large sum of money. The fact that Russell Crowe is actively involved already was surely a deciding factor.

As far as directors go, THR indicates that no less than Sam Raimi, Ridley Scott, and Bryan Singer have expressed interest in helming "Nottingham," which should certainly make the young screenwriters happy. (Their "Splinter Cell" was canceled by Showtime not too long ago.) "Part of the strength of the script was the simple idea of doing Robin Hood by making the sheriff the good guy," Reiff said. "That's something we didn't talk (about) with anybody all the time we worked on it."

Sounds like a pretty interesting project. Who would you guys cast as a "villainous" Robin Hood?

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(1-20 of 56 posts) | Reply

ShopS-Mart writes:
on Feb 02 2007 11:51 AM

Vin Disel as robin hood

(Reply to this)

Xavier Telouran writes:
on Feb 02 2007 11:55 AM

Stay with the theme of Australians in England. Use Heath "The Joker" Ledger...

(Reply to this)

arpeggio191 writes:
on Feb 02 2007 12:25 PM

vin disel shouldn't be allowed to act. I don't know... i'm not a big fan of this idea. I'm not completely familiar with all the Robinhood lore, but i think that making the bad guy a good guy is a dumb idea. whatever though... crowe is good.

(Reply to this)

dagreenman18 writes:
on Feb 02 2007 12:35 PM

Heath Ledger seems like a solid choice, i would also nominate Jude Law and Mark Walberg.

or Sacha Baron Cohen in Ali G mode.

(Reply to this)

TheIceGhost writes:
on Feb 02 2007 12:36 PM

Changing the perspective is an interesting idea. My only concern is that they'll change the actual characters. Make Robin some ugly lumbering oaf instead of the suave bastard he is. As long as they stay true to the characters, I don't see why this is a bad idea.

It's like making a cops/robbers movie. Do you take the side of the cop who is trying to serve the law and 'do what is best', or the robber whose stealing for 'a good cause'. I like it, it's taking a remake to the next level.

And no, Vinny as robin hood is a terrible idea.

(Reply to this)

ShopS-Mart writes:
on Feb 02 2007 12:52 PM

In reply to this comment (#854671)
chuck norris then

(Reply to this)

arpeggio191 writes:
on Feb 02 2007 02:09 PM

chuck norris would rule.

if chuck norris jumped out of a boat, he wouldn't get wet. the water would get "norris-ed"

(Reply to this)

Bigbrother writes:
on Feb 02 2007 02:12 PM

In reply to this comment (#854673)
I don't think Ledger has the physical presence to be an adequate foil for Crowe. It would still seem like a little boy fighting a man. Maybe in a few years. If you absolutely must have an Australian Hugh Jackman is a better choice I think. Jude Law is interesting initially I didn't care for the idea since I'm not a big fan of him as an actor, but it could be good if they were going for a wink wink nudge nudge nod to Errol Flynne style Robin Hood.

(Reply to this)

Bigbrother writes:
on Feb 02 2007 02:15 PM

In reply to this comment (#854673)
Ask Gregory Maguire and the folks behind "Wicked" how dumb the idea is. You'll have to catch them on their way to the bank though. People seem to like "re-imaginings" nowadays even ones that aren't very good like Wicked...I of course refer to the book not the musical which actually kinda rocks.

(Reply to this)

arpeggio191 writes:
on Feb 02 2007 03:04 PM

In reply to this comment (#854679)
oh i'm not saying it won't make money. i'm just saying i think it's a dumb idea. Course if i came up with a really stupid idea that made me millions of dollars, i'd be posting something completely different...

"Of course it's a good idea. Here's what you do, take any idea, then reverse the roles! It's genius! Pardon me for driving my POS lambrigini, my Benteley was in the shop getting Pt-plated trim on the dashboard. My house? Oh, it's small, only 22,000 square feet. Yeah, i didn't want to go too big."

I think i like me with millions of dollars. i'd totally sell out...

(Reply to this)

aliasjjg writes:
on Feb 02 2007 05:41 PM

I can picture Sean Bean all in green, standing high in a tree, showing his nasty, cocky grin

(Reply to this)

Samwise Gamgee writes:
on Feb 02 2007 05:49 PM

Christian Bale should play Robin Hood. And Liam Neeson should get the role of prince John. While I'm at it, hook Sean Astin up with the role of little John, and put Paul Giamatti in there as friar Tuck. Marian should be played by Bryce Dallas Howard. Michael Caine should get the role of King Richard. Now if only I could find a spot for Joaquin Phoenix, Vigo Mortensen, and Gary Oldman.

(Reply to this)

TheAnswerMVP2001 writes:
on Feb 02 2007 06:06 PM

I'm always up for anything involving Russell Crowe, looking forward to this and the three other films he's got coming this year!

(Reply to this)

Bob* writes:
on Feb 02 2007 07:38 PM

robin hood a bad guy? what's next? Hitler is an alien? Jesus was a woman? George washington was gay?

if that's not a sign that hollywood is running out of GOOD ideas, then I don't know what the hell it is.

I know that is interesting to take a different approach to a known material but I think they are crossing the line in this one.

(Reply to this)

Flim Springfield writes:
on Feb 02 2007 07:58 PM

At last, a movie for rich conservatives and poor dumb people.

(Reply to this)

southfrisco writes:
on Feb 02 2007 08:50 PM

Oh give the role of RH to Patrick Dempsey, he seems to be the comeback kid now. Maybe he will actually make a decent career for himself, just do the opposite of everything John Travolta has done.

(Reply to this)

bsideleau writes:
on Feb 02 2007 10:58 PM

Yeah...let's make the sheriff the good guy.........wow this is a weak conservative move if I've ever seen one.

(Reply to this)

deneco4 writes:
on Feb 02 2007 11:18 PM

[b]Yo Yo Yo[/b]
Clive Owen for Robin Hood!

(Reply to this)

Thundaar writes:
on Feb 03 2007 05:20 AM

Mel Gibson

(Reply to this)

GreenBastard writes:
on Feb 03 2007 06:18 AM

Russel Crowe was to fat to climb tree's and swing from ropes etc..so they switched roles.
Chuck norris would be awsome and he could sing the theme song! He's so talented.

(Reply to this)

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