Robin Hood Commences Principal Photography

Academy Award-winning actors Russell Crowe (Gladiator, American Gangster) and Cate Blanchett (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Elizabeth: The Golden Age) have begun production on an untitled Robin Hood adventure, the next film from celebrated director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, American Gangster). The epic action-adventure, which reunites Crowe and Scott for their fifth collaboration, will be produced by Oscar-winner Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, American Gangster), Scott and Crowe. It will lens in the United Kingdom.

Crowe stars as the legendary figure known by generations as Robin Hood, whose exploits have endured in popular mythology and ignited the imagination of those who share his spirit of adventure and righteousness. In 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. And whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people.

The untitled Robin Hood adventure chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard's army against the French. Upon Richard's death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion (Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marion and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff.

With their country weakened from decades of war, embattled from the ineffective rule of the new king and vulnerable to insurgencies from within and threats from afar, Robin and his men heed a call to ever greater adventure. This unlikeliest of heroes and his allies set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more.

Joining Crowe and Blanchett for the film are Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave (Julia, Atonement) as John and Richard's mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine; Mark Strong (Body of Lies, Stardust) as King John's vicious henchman, Sir Godfrey; Oscar Isaac (Che, Body of Lies) as King John; and Léa Seydoux (13 French Street, upcoming Inglourious Basterds) as the woman who will become queen, French Princess Isabella. Playing key members of Robin's band of men are Scott Grimes (television's ER, American Dad!) as Welshman Will Scarlet; Kevin Durand (upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 3:10 to Yuma) as Robin's right-hand, Scotsman Little John; and newcomer Alan Doyle as their troubadour, Irishman Allan Adayle.

Ridley Scott directs the project from a script by Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris (creators of television's Sleeper Cell) and Oscar winner Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential). Scott assembles a team of longtime collaborators for the action-adventure, including John Mathieson (Gladiator, Hannibal) as its cinematographer and Arthur Max (Gladiator, American Gangster)) as the production designer. The film's editor is two-time Oscar winner Pietro Scalia (Black Hawk Down, JFK), and its costume designer is Oscar winner Janty Yates (Gladiator, American Gangster). The executive producer is Charles Schlissel (Matchstick Men, Flightplan).