Nottingham & Hood

[Sawyer]

http://deadline.com/2014/12/robin-hood-nottingham-hood-disney-1201309689/

Robin Hood Now A Race As Disney Acquires Spec ‘Nottingham & Hood’
by Mike Fleming Jr

EXCLUSIVE: Is the venerable rogue do-gooder Robin Hood becoming the “It” guy in Hollywood? Disney has acquired the Brandon Barker spec Nottingham & Hood, a revisionist take on the Robin Hood legend for Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman to produce through The Picture Company. This follows Sony staking a claim to Sherwood Forest as it bought a pitch by Cory Goodman and Jeremy Lott earlier this fall for high price. I’m told that Nottingham & Hood has a Pirates Of The Caribbean tone and the hope is to launch a new adventure franchise that fits Disney’s global brand

Barker is a first-time writer. Disney SVP Tendo Negenda will oversee the project with Foster Driver. Barker is also repped by Benderspink, UTA and attorney Jeff Frankel.

The classic tale has long captivated Hollywood as Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner both played the good-hearted outlaw, along with Cary Elwes in the spoof Men In Tights.

 

[godisawesome]

So... Two different companies want to make a franchise out of Robin Hood. I'm kind of hopeful and kind of stunned at the same time.

I do think there's potential in the ballads and novels to create a good Robin Hood story and make it a franchise. A POTC version sounds like it would have a trickster Robin as the main hero but not the main protagonist, and I could get behind that.

Just don't be afraid of the cool parts of history, like England in anarchy before and during the Plantaganents reign.

 

[Octoberist]

Like how it worked for Snow White and Hercules right, studios? :0

 

[Marvolo]

When I saw the thread title I thought we were getting a film adaption of Stephen Lawhead's King Raven trilogy.

 

[godisawesome]

Like how it worked for Snow White and Hercules right, studios? :0

The counter I could make to that is that Robin hood is closer to Hercules than Snow White, and therefore has more potential for a franchise than Snow White. Both legends actually feature many old stories that remain largely untapped for modern adaptations. And like Hercules, the hard part is to actually execute a fresh take on the legend successfully, and to build a large enough ensemble cast that you wouldn't mind seeing a whole gang in several movies.

Disney had two successful films in the legend before hand (the animated one was vindicated by history, the live-action was a contemporary hit before being sadly neglected).

To me, the biggest threat to this mythos (the same one to the Hercule's myths) is multiple executives looking at this and saying "Franchise potential= we need to get everyone in management involved in this," clogging up any artistic vision with too much input from people who see dollar signs before they see "That looks cool," "this story is strong," or "y'know, this director knows what he's doing."

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

so, are we talking about athropomorphic foxes again? Oodelally!

 

[Rowsdower!]

Not sure if this is a good idea. On one hand, Robin Hood is a great character that could really flourish in a fun, swashbuckling film in the vein of the old Errol Flynn films but with today's much more capable costumes, effects, etc. On the other hand, it's been done over and over again, with the latest version only hitting theaters a few years ago. The sad thing is that the last two big budget versions of the story were both misfires (Ridley Scott's film and the Costner one), and they may have soured the public's opinion on Robin Hood, even if a new version could turn out to be a great film.

 

[Quasimod0]

When I saw the thread title I thought we were getting a film adaption of Stephen Lawhead's King Raven trilogy.

I was just thinking about that. That was a great book series. Have you read it?

A POTC-tone Robin Hood movie sounds really fun actually. Bring it on.

 

[sueb1863]

I think if they got a charismatic actor to play Robin, and made him a FUN character and not some brooding mope weighed down by angst, it could work. Errol Flynn's take was perfect - he could be both fun to watch, and serious when he needed to be, such as when he's talking to Marian about those tortured by Prince John and why he's doing what he does.

I just don't want another dark, gritty Robin Hood movie. We've had plenty of those already!

 

[Rowsdower!]

I think if they got a charismatic actor to play Robin, and made him a FUN character and not some brooding mope weighed down by angst, it could work. Errol Flynn's take was perfect - he could be both fun to watch, and serious when he needed to be, such as when he's talking to Marian about those tortured by Prince John and why he's doing what he does.

I just don't want another dark, gritty Robin Hood movie. We've had plenty of those already!

Agreed. And while they're at it, they better be sure not to MISCAST Robin Hood again. Costner was the absolute worst, but Crowe really wasn't much better.

 

[Marvolo]

I was just thinking about that. That was a great book series. Have you read it?

A POTC-tone Robin Hood movie sounds really fun actually. Bring it on.

I started Hood a few years ago but I got distracted by other books and didn't finish it and then lost my copy and only recently found it again. I intend to pick it up again at some point. What I did read of the first book was good tho.

 

[sueb1863]

Who'd be a good casting choice these days?

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

Who'd be a good casting choice these days?

Zach Levy or Dominic Cooper. Whoever played Robin Hood this year on Dr. Who did a great job channeling Flynn. And, as much as I dislike him in various roles, Orlando Bloom in full Will Turner mode.

 

[Octoberist]

They need a Robin Hood who is a rascal.

 

[sueb1863]

James McAvoy could do it, but maybe he's too slender...

 

[Sawyer]

They need a Robin Hood who is a rascal.

Soo.....

Spoiler

 

[Prison Mike]

Soo.....

Spoiler

He now looks like this...

Spoiler

 

[green]

http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/04/hollywood-is-developing-four-separate-robin-hood-films/

Hollywood is developing four separate Robin Hood films...
Sherwood Forest is getting a little crowded

News came today that Warner Bros. Pictures has started working on a Robin Hood movie from writer Will Beall (Gangster Squad, Aquaman), and producers Dan Lin (The Lego Movie) and John Zaozirny. Normally this wouldn’t be the most newsworthy thing, except this means there are now four different films currently being developed around Robin of Loxley and his Merry Men.

Besides WB’s, Lionsgate is developing Robin Hood: Origins (a titling that worked so well for the X-Men franchise). That’s being written by Joby Harold (Guy Ritchie’s forthcoming King Arthur series), and produced by Appian Way along with Safehouse Pictures’ Charlie Hunnam, and Tory Tunnell. The film is said to be taking a Batman Begins approach to an origin story.

Disney also has a film in the works, though apparently not one starring a red fox. Director/writer Brandon Barker is developing Nottingham & Hood to be a family friendly adventure like the company’s successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona are producing for The Picture Company.

Finally, Sony paid $1 million for a pitch from scribes Cory Goodman (Priest) and Jeremy Lott with Aperture’s Adam Goldworm on as executive producer. This one is said to be a “Fast & Furious meets Mission: Impossible” action thrill ride that seems to make perfect sense for a 12th century archer. Obviously, Jerry Bruckheimer is rumored to be producing.

Hollywood is no stranger to being gluttonous with public domain properties. Kevin Costner’s classic Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves opened against the forgotten Patrick Bergin and Uma Therman-starring Robin Hood in 1991. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles director Jonathan Liebesman just signed on for a King Arthur film called Man at Arms, and that’s not slowing Ritchie down. Heck, there are even two Tupac biopics in the works. Even so, four movies seems just a touch crowded, and it could be a race to see who can get in front of a lens first.

The most recent incarnation of the outlaw of Sherwood Forest was Ridley Scott’s 2010 Robin Hood, which saw Russell Crowe in the title role. That film earned over $300 million internationally, but on a reported $200 million budget, that’s not a major success. Hopefully, one of these four Hood pics hits the bullseye, but it’ll be interesting to see if any of the others spilt the arrow, or just miss the target entirely.

 

[Fallen Angel]

 

[Eddie Dean]

McConaughey as Robin Hood - Costner style.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Bob Odenkirk for Robin Hood.

 

[mclay18]

Who'd be a good casting choice these days?

They should just simplify things and hire this guy again.

He can play a womanizing cad, dashing hero... and has the accent to boot. He's older now, but he can still play the role.

 

[green]

Personally I love the sound of Sony's version...

This one is said to be a “Fast & Furious meets Mission: Impossible” action thrill ride that seems to make perfect sense for a 12th century archer. Obviously, Jerry Bruckheimer is rumored to be producing.

 

[James]

I've often thought Orlando Bloom would make an excellent Robin Hood.

 

[mclay18]

I've often thought Orlando Bloom would make an excellent Robin Hood.

Bloom is too old I think, and Robin is too similar to Legolas and Will Turner. Depending which studio gets to production first, it's better to cast a young up-and-comer for Robin. Someone hungry and willing to prove himself.