Now this is quite the ironic twist of fate as Russell Crowe is set to play the Sheriff of Nottingham in Nottingham, a spec script for Imagine Entertainment which, in all likelihood, will land at Universal Pictures. The interesting point is that the often times troubled Crowe will not be playing a naughty Sheriff, but in fact a sheriff that is, get this, “more noble than previously depicted.”
The Variety article gives us the following descriptiong of the storyline, which will be penned by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris:
Nottingham is based on the premise that Robin Hood was less virtuous and the sheriff more noble than previously depicted. Story also involves a love triangle between Robin Hood, Maid Marion and Nottingham’s sheriff.
Reiff tells the rag, “He’s trying to do the right thing, but he’s up against Robin Hood, who’s becoming heroic while not necessarily acting in the nicest way.”
Reiff and Voris created the Golden Globe nominated television series “Sleeper Cell” and will receive seven figures for the script.
New Line and Warner Bros. were also bidding on the script along with interest being shown from Sony, New Regency and DreamWorks. The potential of this flick is huge with directors Bryan Singer, Sam Raimi and Jon Turteltaub previously attached.
