This weekend will see the return of Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and the Kingsman in KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE as they use their English charm to fight bad guys. Egerton will be doing much of the same next year in the latest ROBIN HOOD movie (albeit with less fancy toys), in a movie version he hopes will stand apart from other iterations.
While speaking with ComicBook.com, Egerton spoke about the tone of the upcoming HOOD movie and where we will see the character when the film begins. In doing so he likens his version to what we saw Kevin Costner do in ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES, bringing a more grounded version to the big screen. Of course, what's a modern version without a few chuckles?
My Robin Hood, as with Kevin Costner's, he's a soldier. We find him out in Syria. I don't think that's too much to say. He's flawed, my Robin Hood. He's a little self-involved and a little self-serving but over the course of the film becomes the hero of the legend. I suspect I'm probably one of the younger Robin Hoods but it's very dark. Gritty. I'm hoping that it will be very funny. Jamie Foxx is Little John. Ben Mendelsohn is the Sheriff of Nottingham. Tim Minchin is Friar Tuck. We've got some people with real, not only incredible acting skills, but also great comic chops, as well. It should have a bit of everything.
The film was originally set for March 2018 but was pushed back about six months to September 21, 2018, virtually a full year after KINGSMAN hits theaters this Friday. The film has a tough battle ahead in terms of getting butts in the seats, as the last major film featuring a classic English hero – KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD – was one of the biggest bombs of the summer. Granted, this film will have less giant elephants and Jude Law turning into a demon, so ROBIN HOOD may have a better shot.
The last major ROBIN HOOD movie we saw was Ridley Scott's version starring Russell Crowe, and though it cracked $100 million its massive $200 million budget was too large to recoup. The budget here will no doubt be much smaller, and perhaps the inclusion of Egerton, Jamie Foxx, Jamie Dornan and more will attract a young audience and bring the character into the modern age. However, going too gritty makes for a dull adventure, so remembering the movie needs to be an actual fun adventure movie will be key to making a movie people actually want to see. Medieval times were already dark enough without a dour Robin Hood.
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE hits this Friday.