Universal Studios has posted synopses of some of their major 2010 films, and two are piquing our interest here at Screen Rant.

The first is “Untitled Robin Hood Adventure,” directed by Ridley Scott of Blade Runner, Alien, Black Hawk Down, and I could keep going, fame. Russell Crowe steps into the tights (well, more like armor this time around looking at the Crowe’s Robin Hood costume) of the mythic English folk hero who enacted his own economic stimulus package for the peasants of Nottingham village.

This story has come to the big screen countless times, twice in one year even, with 1991 seeing Patrick Bergin in Robin Hood matching barbs with Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Some would say neither film, which played up the bandit’s romantic soul and added period realism, hit the bull’s-eye, and still consider Errol Flynn’s swashbuckling The Adventures of Robin Hood the gold standard. Scott’s version sounds a bit bloodier than that classic:

Risky Business Blog has a story claiming that Warner Bros. and the producers of The Dark Knight and 300 are set to bring a futuristic take on the legend of Robin Hood to the big screen. This new comes close on the heels of Universal and Ridley Scott’s cinematic re-imagining of the classic Robin Hood tale, which stars Russell Crowe and is due out next summer.

Who knew that Robin Hood would be making such a big comeback in the new millennium?

In the Wrap Up this week:

Warner Bros get jiggy with their release dates; Paul W.S. Anderson is The Warded Man; Schwentke sees Red with Willis and Freeman; [UPDATED] Will Spielberg helm Helm? Russell Crowe and Paul Haggis are busy for The Next Three Days and Matthew McConaughey and Eva Mendes are Southbound.

It’s officially mid-week and here’s what’s going on:

Harry Potter waves his wand at midnight and conjures box office records; the Heathers may be gone for good; Cox and Arquette are Screaming again; Robin Hood has its King Richard; The Limey may get a sequel; it’s a wrap for Nightmare on Elm Street; The Crow will fly again for the first time; Warner Bros. may be returning to the Major League; and The Toronto Film Festival has a list of flicks that could become next year’s greats.

Let’s get to it:

Every few weeks, we seem to find new photos popping up from the set of Ridley Scott’s new Robin Hood adventure. The film is originally titled Robin Hood, as we found out last week from Russell Crowe in a radio interview with him revealing some details on the film and an epic action sequence he was shooting.

Keeping up with the tradition, today we have a few new photos of the prince of thieves, this time, while riding his loyal mount(s).

It was only a month and a half ago when we got our first look at Russell Crowe in costume, filming Ridley Scott’s current Robin Hood film project. Since then, we’ve not seen much on the project other than some set photos and casting choices.

Today, we finally know what the film will be called and we have a few details on what style the film will take (how gruesome it may be).

This week:
Ben Stiller has no time for Salvation at the box office; George Clooney is a Private Gentleman; Lyndsy Fonseca gets into the Hot Tub Time Machine; Milla Jovovich throws a Stone; Ridley Scott looks for a younger Robin Hood and Kevin Costner makes a western – I’m not kidding.

Casting news has been coming out of Hollywood at a furious pace for the upcoming Ridley Scott-directed Robin Hood, with names like Cate Blanchett, Kevin Durand and William Hurt signing on to co-star in the film. Cate Blanchett acquired the role of Maid Marion from Sienna Miller after producers determined Miller wasn’t old enough to play the love interest for the forty-five year old Crowe.

Early last month, we gave you the first look at Russell Crowe as the title character, Robin Hood. Now we have three more photos to show you that were taken during the filming of a scene in Bourne Woods, Surrey in the UK.

Last week, Screen Rant reported on the first ever image of Russel Crowe as Robin Hood in the upcoming Ridley Scott-directed adventure. It depicted Crowe in full costume sporting his Caesar-style haircut (reminiscent of Gladiator) while holding a longbow.

In our report, I discussed briefly on how the project had changed drastically from its initial plan to feature the Sheriff of Nottingham as the central character and hero of the story. Since then, it has returned to the classic Robin Hood story with the prince of thieves as the central character and the film began shooting that way.

The first picture of Russell Crowe as Robin Hood has finally been released and it looks great!

The movie is currently shooting and in recent weeks we’ve been seeing an onslaught of casting updates. Joining Crowe in this adventure are Cate Blanchett (Maid Marian), Mark Strong (Sir Godfrey), Kevin Durand (Little John), William Hurt (William Marshall), Scott Grimes (Will Scarlet), Vanessa Redgrave (Queen Eleanor) and Alan Doyle (Alan-a-Dale).

Oscar winning actor William Hurt has joined the cast of Ridley Scott’s untitled Robin Hood film (previously titled Nottingham). Hurt, the veteran star of numerous Hollywood and indie films, will star as William Marshall, the Earl of Pembroke in the film that is headlined by Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchette as Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand and Alan Doyle are The Merry Men.

Universal has made an official press release regarding some new casting choices for their upcoming Russell Crowe Robin Hood project.

It was just two weeks ago when we found out that Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand and Allan Doyle would be playing some of Robin Hood’s Merry Men. In addition to those characters, the roles of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, Sir Godfrey, French Princess Isabella and King John have now also been cast.

I’ve copied just the casting section press release for you to see:

While Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood / Nottingham has been in a state of constant flux there has been only one major constant – and that is Russell Crowe as the lead (whatever role that may be).

Now it would appear that casting is well and truly underway with the shoot expected to start next month.

The important Merry Men roles of Will Scarlett, Lttle John and Alan a Dayle have now been filled.

This week:

Ferrell and Wahlberg are The B Team; make a date with Harry Potter; Matt Damon makes an Adjustment; Twilight’s Hardwicke decides to Stay and Blanchett hangs in the Hood.

Hollywood is rarely original, we all know that due to continuous remakes, adaptations of books, TV shows, comics and games. However, once in a while someone surprises us with an original idea or an original take on an old idea.

Nottingham was such a project.

Last year Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe promised a unique take on the Robin Hood legend that would portray the Sheriff of Nottingham as the hero and Robin Hood as the villain. The project was delayed due to some script issues, and then it emerged that Crowe would be playing both Nottingham (the sheriff not the city) and the legendary Robin Hood.

Yes, we’re a day late this week – blame it on flakey internet connections – moving on…

This week:

Brad Pitt plays Ball;  Mangold looks for thrills; does Nottingham have its Marian? Mickey Rourke attaches himself to St Vincent – with an old friend.

It’s time for another Mid Week Movie News Wrap Up.

This week:

John Carpenter chooses yet another project; Clooney and Sorkin like a good Challenge; Bill Murray decides to Get Low; Bloom and Kurylenko get Cross and Nottingham wants an accountant.

In this Weeks Weekend Movie News Wrap Up::

Clint Eastwood drives to the top of the box office with Gran Torino; Ewan McGregor is Pierce Brosnan’s Ghost; Sienna Miller will not be visiting Nottingham; Morricone is not a Basterd; Moore, Neeson and Seyfried know Chloe; the Joker may have the last laugh in Batman 3 and Farrell, Weir and Harris are on their Way Back.

As it stands, Hollywood studios are deadlocked in their contract negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild. That news stirs up foul memories of a year ago, when the Writers Guild of America was at a similar juncture with the studios… Soon after that there were no TV shows for about half a year.

And we all know what that did last year’s TV season.

If you take a look over at MTV news you can see “breaking news” that Russell Crowe will be playing The Sheriff of Nottingham and Robin Hood in Ridley Scott’s forthcoming Nottingham. However, if you are a regular Screen Rant reader you would have known this two months ago!

Yes, we brought you the news in July as the reason for the delay in the epic film, but now Scott has officially announced it at a press conference for Body of Lies.

This is an update on the article I wrote last Sunday stating that the Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe film Nottingham had fallen apart due to script problems and the looming SAG strike.

Well CHUD got the lowdown on the “script problems” and it’s not bad news (as is usually the case). I’m not sure at what point in the script the following information is revealed but be warned that if you’re interested in seeing the movie this could be a MAJOR SPOILER so you may not want to read any further.

We’ve warned you…

Great Scott!

Stone the Crowes!

You can put away your green tights, the Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott Robin Hood film Nottingham has been delayed from its mid August shooting date.

The re-imagining of the Robin Hood legend, which would have seen the Sheriff of Nottingham portrayed as the hero and legendary Robin Hood would have been shown to be a true scallywag.

It now looks like we won’t be seeing the film for at least another 2 years. If at all.

The reasons for the film falling apart are as follows:

Two days ago, Screen Rant’s own Niall Brown reported on Sienna Miller joining the cast of Ridley Scott’s Notthingham as Maid Marian.

Russell Crowe will portray the Sheriff of Notthingham in this revisionist take on the Robin Hood legend – i.e. the Shreiff is the good guy and Robin is the villain.

But with production expected to begin in a few months, there’s still yet to be a Robin Hood cast. However according to the UK’s Daily Mail, Scott is “exceedingly keen” to get The Dark Knight himself Christian Bale in the role. Although they were quick to point out that no contracts have been inked.

Sienna Miller must have one hell of an agent. I don’t think that I’ve even seen her in a film, and I’m pretty certain that I could walk past her in the street and not know who she is. However, she keeps getting column inches in newspapers, but more importantly she keeps getting cast in films.

Her latest signing is as Maid Marian in Nottingham, Ridley Scott’s twist on the Robin Hood legend, where the Sheriff of Nottingham is in fact the good guy, and Robin isn’t such a Merry Man.

Russell Crowe has already been signed to play the Sheriff. Well, it is directed by Ridley Scott!

What a simple idea!

Why didn’t I think of it.