UPDATE: Ridley Scott's 'Nottingham' Gets New Title and New Story Details
Keeping the title simple, but bringing a whole new story
BRIEF UPDATE: SlashFilm reports (via Production Weekly) the cast does include the following actors starring alongside Russell Crowe and Mark Strong: Oscar Isaac, Vanessa Redgrave, William Hurt, Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett.
The only Ridley Scott film I think I actually can say I don't like is A Good Year, that movie just didn't work. While I am not a huge fan of Matchstick Men and not even among the masses that glorify Blade Runner (even though additional viewings of the film have warmed me to that project) I would never say I don't like them.
After watching Body of Lies again over the weekend it's got me in something of a Ridley mood and I have been aching to watch my brand new Blu-ray copy of the Kingdom of Heaven director's cut, which I haven't had a chance to watch since getting it on Christmas day, and perhaps even another viewing of Body of Lies but only after watching Black Hawk Down in a Ridley double header. So, when chatter about his upcoming Robin Hood feature comes about my ears perk up.
MTV has learned the title for the film has changed and production may begin very soon. "Oh yes, I think we are just going to call it Robin Hood," Scott revealed. "We start in almost 2 months." But he didn't stop there.
For so long Nottingham Robin Hood was said to center on the Sheriff of Nottingham (Russell Crowe) in a revisionist take on the Robin Hood tale, with Nottingham as a noble and brave lawman who labors for a corrupt king and engages in a love triangle with Maid Marion and Robin Hood. Talks of Crowe playing some sort of dual Sheriff/Robin Hood role in the film was even talked about, but it appears everything has changed.
Crowe will now be playing Robin Hood who "is in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion," Scott said. "He is a bowman in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion."
"[Crowe as both Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham] was an idea so far back, way back when at the time I had this proposed to me, and I read it and thought, 'I don't really know what it does for it, but it's alright.' "It is better to simply have the evolution of a character called Robin Hood, who will come out of a point in the Crusades which is the end."
Scott even says now the Sheriff will be "less important; the Sheriff of Nottingham is always a kind of an amusing character in most of the movies, who represents the hierarchy in the story at that point. The hierarchy and the wealthy always ruled over the under class, and fundamentally that doesn't change, because Robin Hood is actually the person who finally – in terms of the overall classical idea of the film – will help the poor, probably taking from the rich."
The idea gets even bigger as Scott plans to make the country of France the overall villain saying, "It is from France. It is the French. The villain is much bigger in that sense; much more important, and much more dangerous.
"[In] 1066 Harold II went against William the Conqueror. Harold took an arrow in his eye, and William the Conqueror took over England, and so France owned everything right through. Even to the extent of changing the architecture of the churches from Anglo-Saxon to Roman, that's French; they changed the arches in the churches."
He finishes off by saying Crowe will indeed have lost the weight he gained for Body of Lies and he has been practicing with a bow and arrow for about four months and sends the director "tapes of him hitting targets at about 45 meters." Can't wait!
As of now Crowe and Mark Strong as the only known actors attached to the project. Strong leaked a while back that Cate Blanchett may be stepping into the Maid Marion spot vacated by Sienna Miller, but MTV did not get a confirmation or denial on that news.
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I am excited for this project because I am a huge Ridley Scott fan. I agree that A Good Year was his weakest entry, but I might add Someone to Watch Over Me with that because it seemed like the script was a little weak. I am disappointed in the fact that it is starting to sound a little more conventional, I was intrigued to hear more from the perspective of the Sheriff. Also, the country of France being the villain seems like a philosophical regression for Ridley who has a home in France, has the main character in Kingdom of Heaven from France instead of Jerusalem as he was in real life, and directed the Duelists which is set in France during the Napoleonic Wars. Just seemed a little odd to me. I was intrigued if Ridley Scott was to direct Blood Meridian from the Cormac McCarthy novel, but whatever rumors I heard about that seem to be fading.
Brad, have you heard anything regarding what is happening with Blood Meridian? Last I heard a fairly unknown director was taking the helm.
Sounds much better!
@Jon: I personally don't ever think a Blood Meridian film will get made, at least not at a major studio, but the last I heard was that Todd Field was attached. I wrote about it here.
@Brad Brevet: Thanks, I did read that article, but to be honest I forgot all about it. I think that is a shame, even if they had to slap an NC-17 on the movie, I think it should be made because it is a very interesting story and honestly a lot of money has been petaled on crap from these studios anyway so if it isn't a success, who cares? Seriously, Uwe Boll keeps getting work to make bad movies from bad source material and Blood Meridian gets hosed. Thanks for the info, but I do hope that you are wrong about it not being made.
Regarding Robin Hood (Nottingham), not that this would happen, but I would love to see this made like a Sergio Leone movie. Obviously not the same genre, but he had a certain touch to movies and great pace.
A lot of Ridley Scott mentions this week on the site have made me happy, keep up the good work. Now if as long as he follows through on Brave New World, I will be ecstatic.
If Strong can turn in a performance that is on par with Body of Lies, I hope that this guy can get some Academy attention in the future.
I'm really disappointed by this news. What made the project interesting to me was that it was originally pitched for Nottingham's point-of-view where Robin Hood was this phony dick that everyone loved and poor Nottingham had to deal with this a-hole. Now this is just another Robin Hood movie, albeit from a great director.
@dre: I couldn't agree with you more. While I have confidence in Ridley Scott, I think we have enough movies from Robin Hood's perspective. Hopefully I will be wrong about this redundant storyline, but this is troubling for me.
Is Brian Hedgeland still working on this project, does anyone know? I figure if they are changing things around, the old script is probably requiring a complete rebuff. Maybe Ridley's brother can spare him for a few weeks of writing Tony's movies so he can finish this one off.
@dre and @Jon: You both make a legit point, but just the fact it is Ridley and I am imagining something with the size and scope of Kingdom of Heaven but in terms of a Robin Hood tale it just really fascinates me. From what it seems to me, it appears the other notion may have just been nothing more than a high concept idea and they probably weren't able to flesh out a good enough story.
We have definitely seen Robin Hood before, but I still see a lot of potential for this one to bring something different. Optimism I guess. :)
@Brad Brevet: You are right, it is very likely that the other story never panned out the way they had envisioned it. It does seem like there is an unusual amount of turmoil surrounding this movie from a casting and a writing perspective. Given Ridley's fascination with grandeur, I would say your appraisal is valid. Although, as I long time Ridley fan, I find it curious since he has in the past rushed a script because of his confidence in his filmmaking ability. I do have to wonder how much Russell Crowe's weight loss time had to do with the release of this information.
We need something to replace the memory of prince of thieves, I think this could be it.
If anyone can make this bigger, much more raw and intense its mr. Scott.
Kingdom of Heaven, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, oh yes this could get very iinteresting.
Crowe is already in great shape, judging by recent photos of him. That gossip column stuff about his being corpulent was hogwash, probably planted by Miller's people to deflect attention from the real reasons Sienna Miller was dumped from the film.
I admit I was intrigued by the dual role aspect of Nottingham, but I have a feeling there will still be some surprises in Robin Hood. Yes the film was postponed, but there hasn't been that much trouble with the production progress, unless you believe gossip columns… gossiping.
It's funny, when you read the comments here and at other film websites, about the film, many hated the idea of messing with the legend. Now that the film will be a bit more traditional, the tables are turned.
Given today's economy and it's many villains I think this is the PERFECT time for a Robin "robs from the rich to give to the poor" Hood story! And who else but Russell Crowe could portray such a playful and heroic character? I can't wait!
@dre and @Jon and @Brad: While I think the original idea of Nottingham being a revisionist take on the whole Robin Hood storyline, I thinks its hightime that someone took another stab at remaking Robin Hood. Kevin Costner tried to make his film a little darker than Erol Flynn's version, it still felt a bit too kid-friendly (what with all the hokey "traps" they set up in the forrest & the whole Peter Pan-tree-house-thing).
I was a huge fan of Kingdom of Heaven, so I'm glad that Scott will be dealing with the Crusades again – think he has a lot more to say about them. Hope this film rocks and I hope the new storyline only increases the impact of this film. Epic Robin Hood film? I'm there.
(Oh, and Brad, I'm glad you're warming to Blade Runner – it has steadily moved up in rankings of Great Films over the years – and watching it in high-def? Wow!)