Throughout popular culture, there are famous people whose names are widely known. Although Frankenstein (and his creature), Sherlock Holmes and Ebenezer Scrooge are literary figures, their names have also become synonymous with cinema. This is also true of Robin Hood, the legendary outlaw of English folklore. Throughout the relatively young life of cinema, the character of Robin of Locksley has been portrayed by many actors in a wide variety of styles. Unlike a more purely cinematic pop culture figure (a la Indiana Jones or The Terminator), the longevity of Robin Hood lies in this continuous artistic renewal. In other words, a film about the character might indulge in earlier material, but the door remains wide open to new interpretations.
As proof, we have the trailer for “The Death of Robin Hood,” a new film starring Hugh Jackman as the titular adventurer and (possibly) criminal. Note that the word “hero” is not used here, and that is a deliberate choice as to the purpose and tone of this story, borne out both by the film’s marketing materials and this trailer. Written and directed by Michael Sarnoski (director of “Pig” and the woefully underrated “A Quiet Place: Day One”), the film appears to adapt “Robin Hood’s Death,” a ballad that dates back to the 17th century, making it one of the oldest existing stories about the character.
Sarnoski’s film seems suitably dark, brooding, brutal and mysterious, and Jackman seems to give the character a serious “Old Man Logan” vibe. If the latter isn’t a coincidence, then we might be in for a treat along the lines of 2017’s “Logan.” Regardless, it’s already evident that Jackman and Sarnoski are giving Robin Hood a tone never before seen in film.
The Death of Robin Hood sees Sarnoski returning to rich thematic territory
The trailer functions more as a teaser when it comes to concrete details about “The Death of Robin Hood.” We get small glimpses of what appears to be Bill Skarsgård’s Little John, and if you can spot Noah Jupe or Murray Bartlett in the clip, then your eyes are sharper than mine. Most of the trailer centers on Jackman’s Robin, taken in by Jodie Comer’s mysterious character, who informs him that a little girl Robin has befriended (named Little Margaret, played by Faith Delaney) might be in trouble. The conclusion is that Robin is forced to return to his murderous ways on Margaret’s behalf, and if that’s the case, it would tie the film closely to Sarnoski’s “Pig,” which was also a meditation on an aging man (Nicolas Cage) inexorably drawn back into his past.
The brief moments of brutal combat in the film (which resemble Robert Eggers’ “The Northman”) constitute a mystery; these could be flashbacks to Robin’s past or something he gets into during the story. The other mystery is who Comer’s character is and what she does. Those who have read a version of “The Death of Robin Hood” may have an idea, and it is particularly disturbing. On the other hand, those who have seen “Robin and Marian,” Richard Lester’s version of the 1976 legend starring Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn, might have another theory. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long to find out, as A24 is expected to release the film this year.
