Irish actress and daughter of U2 lead singer Bono, Eve Hewson (Enough Said) has been cast as Maid Marian opposite Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service) in Otto Bathurst’s feature film directorial debut, Robin Hood: Origins.
According to Deadline, Hewson beat out tough competition for the role, with over 100 actresses considered for the part. Hewson was atop the shortlist which included Dutch actress Gaite Jansen (Supernova), Australian actress Lucy Fry (Vampire Academy) and British/South African actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Jupiter Ascending). Hewson’s latest film, Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies, is currently in theaters.
Joby Harold (Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur) wrote the origins story, which has been described as raw and gritty, and likened to Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. The story is being kept under wraps but presumably will show how the expert archer became Sherwood Forest’s heroic outlaw and leader of his band of Merry Men to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Maid Marian is his love interest.
The Lionsgate acquisition is scheduled to go into production next summer, right after Egerton wraps up Kingsman 2. The film is being produced by Appian Way’s Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson, and Safe House’s Harold and Tory Tunnell and Basil Iwanyk.
Lionsgate’s project joins a crowded Robin Hood market. Deadline reports that Disney acquired Nottingham & Hood on relative newcomer Brandon Barker’s spec script, described as a family-friendly adventure film in the vein of Pirates of the Caribbean. Warner Bros. is developing a Robin Hood project, penned by Will Beall (Gangster Squad and Aquaman). Sony also has a project, entitled Hood, from Cory Goodman (upcoming The Last Witch Hunter) and Jeremy Lott (Lore, in development), described as a high-action Fast & Furious meets Mission: Impossible-style reinvention of the classic tale. Jerry Bruckheimer is on board to produce.
Leave a Comment