HOME TRAILERS RELEASE DATES PODCAST REVIEWS POSTERS INTERVIEWS MOVIE NEWS ABOUT US APPS FSnetwork

LATEST NEWS

Russell Crowe Playing Both Robin Hood and The Sheriff of Nottingham?!

by Alex Billington
September 28, 2008
Source: MTV, CHUD

Russell Crowe Playing Both Robin Hood and The Sheriff in Nottingham?!

This news should've been reported a long time ago courtesy of a scoop from CHUD back in July, but it wasn't. However, today we've got a second confirmation and it's worth mentioning again. Apparently Russell Crowe will be playing both the role of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham in Ridley Scott's Nottingham. Wait, what?! It doesn't exactly make sense now, but apparently in the actual script, Robin and the Sheriff are the same person. How will that work? I don't exactly know, but it has something to do with the way the story plays out and it's not just another Norbit-like multiple role gimmick (phew!). We probably won't know exactly what this means for a while, but it's a remarkably intriguing casting update.

Ridley Scott confirmed to MTV this weekend that Crowe will play both roles. Scott did say the roles would be "a a good old clever adjustment of characters. One becomes the other. It changes." When this news first hit back in July, it was discovered that this confusing plot twist was one of the areas of the script that really needed work. Thus, Scott halted pre-production on the film to give more time for the script to be developed into something that wasn't as confusing; or at least to take the time to work this characterization more intelligently into the story. Crowe mentioned to press this weekend that Nottingham is "one of those things where we're taking our time with. You don't want to be doing Robin Hood unless you're going to be doing it really f*cking well. It's got to be the best one ever done otherwise you should do something else."

Considering Nottingham is supposed to be a revisionist take on Robin Hood, I'm open to any crazy ideas Scott might have. There's no need to start complaining when I don't even understand how it would all work to begin with. And I'm not going to claim that it's a bad idea to even try and include it in the script when it potentially might be an intriguing twist, especially in opposition to the classic Robin Hood tale we're all familiar with. Ridley Scott is a great filmmaker, I have no doubts that he'll be able to pull it off. And Crowe is a great enough actor, that he'll pull it off, too. I guess it's just an incredibly interesting part of the story and I can't wait to see how it all works. What do you make of this dual casting in Nottingham?

Pin It

Related categories: Casting, Discussion, Movie News

harrison

is it gonna be like fight club? does he get in a sword fight with himself? ill still go see it
gs

very good news. Russell crowe play both the role. good and bad
Devon Shaw

Cute, but this will be met with much controversy and outcry from longtime Robin Hood enthusiasts. And rightfully so. The original story itself is strong enough. This is Ridley Scott trying to be clever because he couldn't find a proper Robin Hood in time for costume fitting. I thought we were going to get a well-executed somewhat-accurate portrayal, not a tanked mess conjured from the ill-conceived thoughts of an overzealous producer. This gaffe ranks right up there with Jon Peters' attempted destruction of Superman by not wanting him to fly or wear his blue suit. And Russell Crowe is too old to play Robin Hood. Extremely disappointing news, and enough for me to wipe Nottingham off my list of anticipated films.
vegeta

This sounds pretty interesting, like the Sheriff of Nottingham is leading a double life outside the view of his royal peers or something. In any case, it'll merit a ticket purchase on my part.
Blue Buttons

This sounds really, really stupid.
David R

I think it'll be like Dexter of the Shotime Series type thing
drew

i interned with ridley scott recently and got the chance to help out with his meetings with the writers. there is some good stuff. you wont be disappointed.
Conrad

This is bloody retarded! Are Crowe and Scott married now or something? They're like one of those couples that does everything from sleeping together to rock climbing! Crowe used to be a good actor, he was great in "The Insider", he was all right in "A Beautiful Mind", but he was EXTREMELY OVERRATED in "Gladiator" - no did that even deserve to win best picture let alone even be nominated. Plus he was in "American Gangster" way too much. The movie is titled "American Gangster" - why the hell does he have so much damned screen time as the law? Scott is not like Spike Jonze where he can incorporate multiple characters to be portrayed by one actor, he's not that artistic nor is he that versatile. Russell Crowe is terribly immature and hotheaded. I think Scott is the only person that will hire Crowe on the regular basis. I mean, remember that flop "A Good Year" that came out a couple years ago? - who cared about that one and that was by Scott and Crowe and I've heard it was lousy too boot. Not to mention we've got "Body of Lies" to await for (although that sounds like a mysterious soft porn flick in the same vein as "Night Eyes" or something...). Hopefully DiCaprio will rescue it from being a typical action movie with some clever espionage just to shut the fans up, but not the critics. All in all, this is a stupid idea to have Crowe play the villain and the hero - especially with Robin Hood, leave the franchise alone Ridley!!!
Shige

Please do not do this. Another way for hollywood to make a "wacky" and "clever" thing, meaning they are going to butcher a classic story and milk some cash.
tashawnda

bullshit!
Hyacinth

messed up.
Derek

I like Russell Crowe as much as the next guy, but does Ridley Scott realize that there are other actors?
mjkbk

Nope. Russell says this story is not true. See his longtime fansite, Murph’s Place, http://www.murphsplace.com/crowe/news.html.
http://www.kogmedia.com movie fan

Russell Crowe's got the accent for Robin Hood (or the sheriff), though he could stand to loose a little weight...
Fed Up With Hollywood

Yet again, what's the friggin' point?! If you want to make Robin Hood then make Robin Hood. If you want a similar story with a twist then make a different story with different characters. STOP DINKING WITH THE CLASSICS FOR F'S SAKE!
marilet rubinos

i hope u will reply my very own letter that i send to ur place in australia. please. please!!! its been so long mr. russell crowe. im marilet from the phil. im ur one big fun!!!!