Summary
As he gears up to enter pre-production on the title later this year, Michael Sarnoski teases howThe Death of Robin Hoodwill differ from previous adaptations of the classic character. The movie was first announced in May 2024, with Sarnoski, fresh off the success of the Nicolas Cage-ledPigand ahead ofA Quiet Place: Day One’s success, writing and directing the project and casting Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer in the lead roles. Described as a “dark retelling” of the character, the movie is gearing up to start production in February 2025.
During a recent interview withColliderforA Quiet Place: Day One’s release, Sarnoski discussed the development ofThe Death of Robin Hood. In addition to describing the script as a “smaller passion project”, the writer/director went on to explain how the movie will differ from prior adaptations of the character, confirmingit will have action sequences, but will also be “a very intimate story”. Check out what Sarnoski shared below:
I wrote that script right before coming onto A Quiet Place. I made a deal with myself where if I was gonna do a big studio movie, I wanted to make sure I had my smaller passion project in the wings that I could be thinking about. So, I wrote it right before writing this and have just been playing with it in the background. Then we started taking it out, and, I don’t know, it just became this. Initially, when writing it, I wasn’t sure it was gonna be my next movie, but I knew I wanted to have something I cared about.
As I was going through this process, I was like, “It’s pretty obvious that it has to be that movie.” I just fell in love with it more and more. Then, as we brought these incredible actors on, it’s where my heart’s gonna be at for the next year. It’s a little bit of both [a two-hander in a house and actioner]. It has a sort of different version of the epic Robin that we’re used to while also a very intimate story that’s going throughout, as well. So, it’ll have a little bit for everyone in that sense.
Sarnoski’s Robin Hood Might Be Repeating Past Adaptations' Mistakes
Going all the way back to the early days of film, the classic tale ofRobin Hoodhas been adapted over 70 times to the screen, with a wide variety of approaches taken to the character. Some of the more notable have included the Errol Flynn-led 1938 classic, the Kevin Costner-ledPrince of Thieves, the 2010 action dramapairing Russell Crowe and Ridley Scottfor the fifth time and Taron Egerton’s 2018 effort. The one thing the majority ofRobin Hoodadaptations have shared is mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, particularly as their tones became more somber and less swashbuckling.
19 Actors Who Played Robin Hood In Movies
The story of Robin Hood has captured audiences since the 14th century, and unsurprisingly, this led to a great many films about the dashing thief.
Sarnoski’s tease of a more intimate story forThe Death of Robin Hoodmight prove concerning for those looking for a more lighthearted adventure from the character. The last time the character got a strictly upbeat adaptation for the big screen wasMel Brooks’Robin Hood: Men in Tights, which took a spoof-heavy approach to its structure and, despite mixed reviews, was a box office success and has become a cult favorite since.
There is one recent period drama that might show just howThe Death of Robin Hoodcould be a success with critics inthe form ofDavid Lowery’sThe Green Knight. Similarly adapting a medieval classic tale with both an artistic and epic scope, and with it garnering rave reviews from critics and bringing in a modest haul for A24, taking the same kind of approach could work for Sarnoski. With the director now having shown a diversity in his filmmaking skills betweenPigandA Quiet Place: Day One, it’s clear that Sarnoski has a strong grip on storytelling as a whole and could make hisRobin Hoodtwist work.
