We have the first look at Sean Bean in the new Robin Hood series, which has the actor taking on an iconic literary villain!
It seems every few years or so, we get a new take on Robin Hood. It’s no surprise, as the tale of a master archer robbing the rich to give to the poor and fighting oppression remains a timeless adventure that can work in almost any decade.
In film, we’ve had Errol Flynn and Kevin Costner, while TV has given us takes such as a 2000s BBC series. It also clearly inspired DC’s Green Arrow character, which got its own hit show.
Now. MGM+ is ready to reveal a new take on the tale in an upcoming original series. It’s produced by John Glenn and Jonathan English and puts a different spin on the mythos. Here, rather than the son of a nobleman, Robin (Jack Patten) is the son of a forester. He meets and falls in love with Marian (Lauren McQueen), a noblewoman who he works with to take down the corrupt rulers of the land.
Sean Bean and Connie Nielsen star in Robin Hood
Production has been underway for a while, and now, MGM+ is sharing the first look at the series, which features genre icon Bean as the Sheriff of Nottingham. He’s shown in court alongside Connie Nielsen of Gladiator and Wonder Woman fame as Eleanor of Aquitaine.
The show's description is as follows:
"Following the Norman invasion of England, Rob – a Saxon forester’s son – and Marian, the daughter of a Norman lord – fall in love and work together to fight for justice and freedom. As Rob rises as the leader of a band of rebel outlaws, Marian infiltrates the power at court, as both work together to thwart royal corruption and bring peace to the land.”
Bean plays a complex sheriff
The casting of Bean in the role of the Sheriff is a great touch for the series. While known as Ned Stark in Game of Thrones, Bean has a long history with period dramas and adventure shows alike. He’s also skilled at playing the bad guy, like the Bond movie Goldeneye, and so he has the credentials to be the Sheriff.
What’s intriguing is the role has been described as “a statesman, a strategist, and a builder of Nottingham itself who rules with an iron hand, not out of cruelty, but an unshakable belief that the law, as Normans see it, must be preserved."
That indicates the Sheriff is the classic case of “every villain is the hero of his own story.” He sees himself fighting for his people and doing what it takes to succeed, and Robin Hood is ruining his attempts at “peace.” Bean can easily pull that dynamic off to make this more than a one-note villain, adding complexity and even making the audience root for him at times.
Bean’s presence will hopefully help this version of Robin Hood hit the bullseye with viewers.
Robin Hood premieres on MGM+ later this year.