Ridley Scott’s ‘Robin Hood’ Finalizes Cast; Gets Under Way

A statement released by Universal has informed us that Ridley Scott’s “Untitled Robin Hood Adventure” has officially began principal photography in London. The film had previously been known as “Nottingham” and only recently had Scott revealed that the title would simply be, “Robin Hood.” It is not known if that is still the case.

The statement also brought light on several cast members who were previously unannounced. Joining the likes of Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, who will star as Robin Hood and Maid Marion, will be Vanessa Redgrave (“Atonement”, “Crime and Punishment”) as Queen Eleanor of Acquitaine – the mother of King Richard and King John; Oscar Issac (“Body of Lies”, “Che”) as King John; and Lea Seydoux (the upcoming “Inglourious Basterds”) as Princess Isabella.

They are joined by the previously announced Scott Grimes (“Band of Brothers”) as Welshman Will Scarlett; Kevin Durand (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”, TV’s “Lost”) as Robin’s right hand man, Scotsman Little John; Alan Doyle (lead singer of folk band Great Big Sea) as Irishman Allan Adayle; and Mark Strong (“Body of Lies”, “RockNRolla”) as King John’s henchman, Sir Godfrey.

The project has undergone significant story changes with earlier versions having Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham as the same character. Interestingly, the official writers of the film are Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris, whose previous efforts include “Kung Fu Panda” and “Bulletproof Monk”, and Brian Helgeland who scribed upcoming films “The Taking of Pelham 123”, “Salt” and “Green Zone”.

Further, it has been reported that the film will feature significant musical numbers. This claim is supported by the fact that two of the main cast members have musical backgrounds – Alan Doyle is the lead singer of Canadian folk-rock band Great Big Sea and Scott Grimes has previously released two rock albums. Add to that Russell Crowe’s musical side project, The Ordinary Fear of God and defunct band, Thirty Odd Foot of Grunt. Coincidentally, Crowe has previously performed with Doyle’s Great Big Sea – no guesses on how Doyle got casted then.

A synopsis of the film was also included in the statement but doesn’t really tell us anything we didn’t already know;

“The untitled Robin Hood adventure chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French. Upon Richard’s death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion (Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marion and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff.”

The “Untitled Robin Hood Adventure” has a tentative release date of May 14th, 2010.