Ridley Scott's 'Robin Hood' Cast And Plot Revealed: Vanessa Redgrave, Mark Strong, Others Added

By Josh Wigler

Originally titled "Nottingham," director Ridley Scott's upcoming "Robin Hood" adaptation was previously rumored to star Russell Crowe as both Robin Hood and the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham. While there's still no official word on the Sheriff's casting, a new press release reveals a ton of other information about the film.

According to the announcement, Crowe and the previously revealed Cate Blanchett (Maid Marian) and Alan Doyle (Allan Adayle) will be joined by Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand and Academy Award-winner Vanessa Redgrave. The movie is said to focus on Robin Hood and his merry men as they "protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war."

Grimes and Durand -- who plays the Blob in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" -- will fight alongside Crowe's Robin and Doyle's Allan as Will Scarlet and Little John, respectively. Redgrave, mother of the late Natasha Richardson, will play Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother to King John. John will be played by newly announced Oscar Isaac, who collaborated with Ridley Scott on "Body of Lies." Also joining the cast are Mark Strong as Sir Godfrey and Léa Seydoux as Princess Isabella.

The film -- which has yet to attain an official title -- focuses on Crowe's Robin Hood as he travels to the corrupt village of Nottingham. There, Robin assembles the "gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life" in order to save Nottingham from its tyrannical sheriff's rule and claim the hand of the fair Lady Marian.

Shame on us, but when we think of "Robin Hood" we can't shake the theme song from Mel Brooks' "Men in Tights" from our heads. With any luck, Scott's version should be a slightly less ridiculous interpretation of the Prince of Thieves -- despite the fact that there's going to be some musical numbers in the movie.

Does the new "Robin Hood" sound interesting to you? Are you excited by the latest casting additions? Arrows away in the comments section!

Tags alan doyle, cate blanchett, kevin durand, nottingham, ridley scott, robin hood, Russell Crowe, scott grimes, vanessa redgrave