Russell Crowe's 2010 Robin Hood movie didn't exactly turn a lot of heads critically, so for the legendary archer's next theatrical adventure, filmmakers are turning to his beginnings. Robin Hood: Origins has already built a solid cast, with Kingsman star Taron Egerton leading as Robin himself, but there's still a few players that have yet to be added. However, one of those key roles may finally be filled, as Fifty Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan is in talks to join the feature.
Should Jamie Dornan work out a deal, Variety reports that he will play Will Scarlet, one of the member of Robin Hood's band of outlaws, the Merry Men. While many Robin Hood tales usually have Will as the youngest member of the gang, this movie twists that around, as Dornan is eight years older than Taron Egerton. Assuming everything works out, Dornan would be the fourth actor to be added to Robin Hood: Origins, following behind Egerton's Robin, Eve Hewson as Maid Marian and Jamie Foxx as Little John. The movie will follow the eponymous hero when he returns home from the Crusades and forms the Merry Men to fight corruption around Sherwood Forest.
Will Scarlet is one of the oldest supporting characters in the Robin Hood lore, even appearing in some of the earliest ballads. He is usually one of the best swordsmen the land has ever seen, sometimes even wielding two blades in battle. It remains to be seen just how this version of Will Scarlet will be recruited by Robin Hood in the Origins movie, but we can count on him to fight alongside the archer and the other Merry Men against the ruthless figure ruling with an iron fist over the common folk, be it the Sheriff of Nottingham or someone else. As far as media adaptations go, Will Scarlet was played by Christian Slater in 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Matthew Porretta in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Scott Grimes in 2010's Robin Hood and Michael Socha in the TV series Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.
Jamie Dornan's primary claim to fame is playing Christian Grey in the erotically-charged drama Fifty Shades of Grey. He'll reprise the same role next year in Fifty Shades Darker and the year after that in Fifty Shades Freed. Beyond that, his notable credits include Marie Antoinette Anthropoid, the ABC series Once Upon a Time and the Netflix series The Fall. Robin Hood: Origins would definitely be a great way for Dornan to make the leap to action-packed blockbusters, and depending on how well this movie performs, it could even turn into another cinematic series for Dornan to revisit every couple years.
We'll keep you updated on how Robin Hood: Origins is progressing as more relevant details come in, but for now, let us know what you think of Jamie Dornan's casting in the comments below.
