Cate Blanchett will be the Maid Marian to Russell Crowe's Robin Hood in Ridley Scott's epic for Universal Pictures, according to VARIETY. Originally called NOTTINGHAM, the film will have a new title and is set to begin production in early April in the U.K.
Producers include Brian Grazer (Imagine Ent.) with Scott under his Scott Free banner. The film was originally written by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, then rewritten by Brian Helgeland as the project morphed into a GLADIATOR-like version of the Medieval legend.
Scott will reportedly aim for a PG-13 rating and a budget of $130 million, and will benefit from a favorable exchange rate and U.K. tax credits. The retooled film is an origins story of Robin Hood that most closely resembles the known historical facts of the time. Abandoned as a child, Robin of Loxley finds a home in Nottingham, but has abandonment and trust issues until he meets his match in the independent Marian.
Sienna Miller was once attached to the role, but has since exited. Grazer likes the idea of a Blanchett-Crowe pairing: "They are both highly accomplished dramatic actors who are taken seriously playing rich characters in period pieces, but each has the ability to show you fun," Grazer said.
