You can only reimagine a classic mythological character so many times before the attempt loses all its energy, but let’s hope third time’s the charm for Robin Hood. The legendary medieval outlaw has enthralled audiences for ages, yet keeping him relevant in a post-postmodern era has proven tough. Over the past decade, Robin Hood was among countless figures to receive the “gritty reboot” treatment—joining other action icons in darker, more somber origin tales.
Unlike his peers, though, none of Robin Hood’s revised reboots have left much of a mark. Ridley Scott offered an intriguing take on the legend in 2010, but it didn’t stick in the cultural zeitgeist. Eight years later, another Robin Hood film came out, but it was even more forgettable. In 2026—another eight years later—we’ll get yet another take on Robin Hood, and fortunately, it feels a bit different from the generic origin story its predecessors relied on. Helmed by Pig’s Michael Sarnoski and starring Hugh Jackman, The Death of Robin Hood is tackling the legend from a new perspective.
The Death of Robin Hood follows a much older Robin Hood, who reflects on his past of stealing from the rich with regret. This Robin resorted to ruthless tactics to carry out his mission and sees himself more as a villain than the hero we know. His guilt is so overwhelming that he’s eager to leave this life behind—and he almost gets his wish after a brutal battle. Instead, he’s saved by a mysterious woman (Jodie Comer), who’s likely this story’s Maid Marian. She’s devoted her life to helping lost souls, and Robin Hood is her newest project.
After his near-death experience, our hero is now on a quest to atone for his past sins—apparently by making the world better for a young girl in Marian’s care. The parallels to Jackman’s final run as Wolverine (, anyway) are impossible to ignore: The Death of Robin Hood is shaping up to be medieval . It’s an interesting approach to a property that otherwise feels DOA, but only time will tell if that’s enough to set this reboot apart from the rest.