It's no secret that Robin Hood has been adapted countless times across different media, particularly film. For over a century, various filmmakers have put their own spin on the legendary outlaw on the big screen, and the next movie, simply titled Robin Hood, arrives next month. For those of you wondering what makes this Robin Hood, starring Taron Egerton, different from what's come before, director Otto Bathurst notes that he didn't look to any of the previous versions for inspiration. As the actor put it:
This film has got nothing to do with any of the other Robin Hoods that have been made. I didn't watch them, I wasn't influenced by them at all. The version we made is completely and utterly different from anything you've seen before. It's a story that's been told for hundreds and hundreds of years. So we've got our version, we dragged it into the 21st century. Hopefully it'll resonate with a modern audience.
The more times you adapt a character, the harder it becomes for the next version to seem special. In Robin Hood's case, he's been a popular fictional character since the 14th century, so there's been hundreds of years for creative minds to put their special stamp on him. Knowing how much cinematic material was already out there, Otto Bathurst opted to ignore all that for his Robin Hood movie, preferring to work with the basics and go from there to deliver something that today's moviegoers would like.
Also speaking with THR, Taron Egerton said that he felt like "there was a scope to tell the story in a very different way," and that it made a lot of sense to put a "modern spin" on this Robin Hood movie, making it something "exciting, action-packed and fast-paced." Both Egerton and Otto Bathurst also agreed that no matter what the time period, Robin Hood and his crusade against corruption, will be relevant, though Egerton also made sure to note that this movie is first and foremost a "popcorn action flick."
Obvious when crafting a Robin Hood story, there are certain elements that have to be there, like his archery skills and his mission of stealing from the rich to give to the poor. But beyond that, there's plenty of room to take creative liberties and give audiences something different to chew on. For instance, in this Robin Hood movie, Little John, played by Jamie Foxx, is the one who mentors Robin, as opposed to just being the protagonist's second-in-command.
Coming eight years after the Russell Crowe-led Robin Hood movie, this new Robin Hood serves as an origin story for Robin of Loxley, as he starts his campaign against the Sheriff of Nottingham, played by Ben Mendelsohn. Along with the previously mentioned actors, Robin Hood stars Eve Hewson as Maid Marian, Tim Minchin as Friar Tuck and Jamie Dornan as Will Scarlet.
Robin Hood will be released in theaters on November 21, and if you're curious about what else is coming out before the year is over, look through our holiday movies guide.
