Release Date: 2026 (A24) | Director/Writer: Michael Sarnoski | Star: Hugh Jackman | Co-Stars: Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Noah Jupe | Studio: A24 / Lyrical Media / RPC | Filming Location: Northern Ireland | Format: 35mm film
What is The Death of Robin Hood about? A dark reimagining of the 17th-century ballad Robin Hood’s Death. Jackman plays an aging, murderous outlaw grappling with his violent past after being critically injured. The “hero” who stole from the rich was actually “monstrous,” and 20 years later, he must confront the legend versus the truth.
How is this Robin Hood different? No green tights. No merry men. Jackman’s Robin has “long, gray hair and massive beard”—unrecognizable transformation. Director Michael Sarnoski (Pig, A Quiet Place: Day One) told Entertainment Weekly: “He did terrible things. He’s figuring out how he feels about being portrayed as hero when he knows what he really was.”
Who does Jodie Comer play? A mysterious woman (not Maid Marian) who nurses injured Robin and “introduces him to another side of life.” Her character’s dance with Robin “brings sensitivity to this movie,” per Sarnoski. Comer’s casting reunites her with Sarnoski after The End We Start From.
Who is Bill Skarsgård’s character? “A version of Little John”—but expect subversion. Skarsgård, 35, brings It‘s Pennywise unpredictability to the role. The nature of his relationship with this darker Robin remains ambiguous in marketing.
Where was it filmed? Northern Ireland—Belfast Harbour Studios, Silent Valley, Glenram, Murlough Bay. Six-week shoot February-March 2025. Post-production at Yellowmoon, Holywood. The landscapes provide “mystical, rugged” atmosphere, per A24.
Why 35mm film? Sarnoski insisted on photochemical format for “texture and timelessness.” The grain matches Robin’s weathered face; the color palette—greens, grays, blood reds—evokes 1970s revisionist Westerns (McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Outlaw Josey Wales).
What is the tone? “Thriller” per IMDb, but early footage suggests existential drama. Jackman described it to EW: “Power, and how power can be used for good or bad. It’s beautiful and human.” The “death” of the title is literal and metaphorical—Robin dying, legend dying, heroism dying.
How does this fit Jackman’s career? Post-Wolverine (2017), Jackman sought dramatic depth: The Front Runner (2018), Bad Education (2019), The Son (2022). Death of Robin Hood continues this trajectory—physical transformation, moral ambiguity, awards potential.
What’s A24’s role? The indie distributor acquired U.S. rights in competitive bidding (Marché du Film, May 2024). A24’s marketing—mysterious trailers, artistic posters, limited interviews—will position Death of Robin Hood as “elevated genre,” similar to The Witch or The Lighthouse.
Is there Oscar potential? Jackman’s physical transformation and Sarnoski’s critical reputation (Pig earned Nicolas Cage Best Actor nominations) suggest campaign possibility. A24’s awards track record (Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Whale) supports prestige positioning.
When is the exact release date? A24 has announced “2026” without specificity. Speculation suggests fall festival premiere (Telluride, Toronto, Venice) before limited theatrical release—A24’s standard strategy for awards contenders.
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