For many years now I have been wanting someone to make a film about the Death of Robin Hood. And I wanted it to star Kevin Costner, effectively reprising his role from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves".
Am I happy that someone has finally made the Death of Robin Hood into a film?
Yes.
Am I happy that Kevin Costner is not in the film?
No.
I would have been very happy to see Kevin return to reprise the role.
Am I disappointed that they gave the role to Hugh Jackman instead?
A little bit, yes.
In short, I have mixed feelings on the topic.
Am I planning to see the film in a theatre?
You bet your last arrow I am. I am definitely looking forward to it. I may even invite a bunch of my archery students/friends to watch it with me.
I might be tempted to take my eldest son to see it, but judging by the trailer it is very violent so perhaps that is a bad idea. He isn't old enough to be watching violent films like that.
As a professional archer and a writer I have spent countless hours researching the oldest Robin Hood stories / government records, investigating the grave sites of the real Robin Hood and Little John, and I can report the following.
Robin Hood was indeed a real outlaw, as was Little John. You can even visit their graves. Back in the 1990s they dug up Little John's grave and determined that he had been seven feet tall.
Were there any Merry Men?
No, that part was fictionalized.
Was there a Maid Marian?
No, she was fictionalized too.
However...
Fun Fact: I have a beard, and having a beard and practicing archery regularly I have a fun little factoid for you. When you draw the bow back to north anchor (the corner of your mouth) and shoot, it sometimes rips a few hairs free. Over time if you are shooting regularly you end up getting a bit of thin patch of beard in that spot.
Hugh Jackman's Robin Hood is also drawing the bow back to north anchor, and he had a beard. But did they make a note of making that spot a bit thinner? Hmm?
I look forward to watching the film and finding out. Only someone like myself, who knows such a minor detail, would even care about such a thing, but I think it would be amazing if they included such a detail.
Whether they will... Well, that's a different topic.
Robin Hood should really be wearing gloves too, or an archery tab. The poundage of the bow would be quite high and hurt his fingers unless he was wearing gloves or a tab.
We archers crave historical accuracy. It is just something we do. We're perfectionists.
