Robin from the Hood
Outlaw is rougher and edgier as he returns to the big screen
WHEN Robin Hood bursts back on to the big screen, he will not be leading a band of merry men.
British actor Taron Egerton, who plays the outlaw in his latest outing, has said we can expect a grittier, darker character “for the 21st century”.
The 27-year-old, who starred in Kingsman: The Secret Service and Eddie the Eagle, follows in the footsteps of past Robins including Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner.
He said: “It will be less selfreverential than the Robin Hoods that have come before.
“I think the problem with Robin Hood sometimes is that… I love the Kevin Costner one and I think there were some great moments in the Russell Crowe one as well, but they’re very, very Robin Hood-y.
“Ours is less Robin Hood-y. It’s grittier, it’s darker. It’s a Robin Hood for the 21st century.”
Film bosses have said that in Robin Hood: Origins – out next month – “war-hardened Crusader” Robin and Little John, played by Jamie Foxx, mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown”.
It is directed by Otto Bathurst, who worked on Peaky Blinders.
Taron said: “If you’ve seen Peaky Blinders, you’ll know something of the tone of it.”
He had previously said the film was a “real revisionist version of the story”.
Taron added: “There’s no singing and riding through the glen in this. It’s a war movie. Quite an anti-establishment war movie, I would say.
“And Robin’s not perfect in it, either, which is what I like about it. He’s not a classic hero, he makes mistakes.”
The actor has also revealed he keeps cutting himself practising archery.
He said: “The string keeps catching the skin on my arm and I’ve been cut to ribbons. I’m playing Robin Hood, so I hope I become good at it.”
Eve Hewson plays Maid Marian with Ben Mendelsohn as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Jamie Dornan as Will Scarlet and Tim Minchin as Friar Tuck.
Ours is less Robin Hood-y. It’s grittier, it’s darker, it’s a Robin for the 21st century TARON EGERTON ON FILM’S TWIST ON CLASSIC CHARACTER