As production gets underway on Robin Hood: Origins, director Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders) has been speaking to Croatia’s Dubrovnik Daily about this latest take on the English folk hero, revealing that he was drawn to the project due to the social relevance of its story.
“To be honest, when this film was first offered to me, I turn it down immediately,” Bathurst said. “The world doesn’t need another Robin Hood film, we had enough. But when I started to look into it and investigate this man and legend, the story seemed more relevant today than it has ever been. For me, making a film is about reflecting what’s going on at the moment, to bring back something to humanity, to society. So there is a purpose to the film rather than being pure entertainment. We want to be entertained as well. Every day the film seems to be more and more important. This will be a great peace of entertainment, but there is also a real subtext to the movie about government, corruption and the power of individual to bring change to society. It’s about 99% being ruled by 1% and if any of us, any normal man has the strength and the courage to stand up and fight for the truth, then the real change can happen. That is the strong message of Robin Hood and it’s going to be an even stronger message of my Robin Hood.”
SEE ALSO: Jamie Foxx describes 2018’s Robin Hood: Origins as gritty and real
Robin Hood: Origins is scheduled for release on March 23rd, 2018 and features a cast that includes Taron Egerton as the legendary English folk figure, Jamie Foxx as Little John, Ben Mendelsohn as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Eve Hewson as Maid Marian, Jamie Dornan as Will Scarlett, Tim Minchin as Friar Tuck and Paul Anderson as a yet-to-be-revealed character.
Originally published February 20, 2017. Updated November 30, 2022.
