Hugh Jackman has transformed into a bloodthirsty Robin Hood for his new film, which hits UK cinemas next week.
The Hollywood star, 57, helms A24’s The Death of Robin Hood – a shocking reinterpretation of the English folklore legend in its final years, which turns the heroic bandit into a bloodthirsty vigilante.
Michael Sarnoski directs the medieval drama, in which a seriously injured Robin Hood is rescued by a compassionate nun (Jodie Comer) and a group of orphans as he reflects on his horrific sins.
New stills from the film show Hugh in a long gray wig and prosthetic beard in the starkly lit scenes shot in Northern Ireland.
Hugo said CinemaBlend that his new look posed some challenges on set, especially while filming the intense battle scenes.
‘I had to have a fake beard. And in that scene in the mud, there were a few shots where I put my head up. The beard is gone. “Oh, somewhere in there.”
Hugh Jackman has transformed into a bloodthirsty Robin Hood for his new film, which hits UK cinemas next week
The Hollywood star, 57, leads A24’s The Death of Robin Hood – a shocking reinterpretation of the English folklore legend in his final years
“Towards the end it was literally like tape underneath and you couldn’t see anything, it was all muddy, I was just trying to hold this thing. And there was a piece attached to it,” the actor recalls.
The star explained how his old hair and make-up team gave him the unusual look on the set of the film Song Sung Blue.
Hugh said: “Sean Flanagan, I have to give him props. He’s my hair man. He has worked with me on many films.
“Pamela Westmore, who does the makeup, the two of us were sitting in the trailer for Song Sung Blue, and they both looked at me and I said, ‘What’s going on?’
“And they said, ‘We came up with something that we think could be a cool look.’ And I looked and said, “Wow.” It’s pretty much what you saw. And I immediately sent it to Michael, and he said, “Perfect.” And that was it. And then they had to figure out how to do that. And that wig held up really well.”
Sarnoski has admitted that The Death of Robin Hood will be “challenging” for viewers, but it’s important to “give them something different.”
The writer and director’s film features a much darker take on the outlaw and while he knows it won’t be to everyone’s taste, he wanted to show a different side of the archer because people complain when they’re just presented with new versions of the same story.
He told The Times newspaper: ‘[But] then you try to give them something else and they say, “Why can’t we have our classic Robin Hood again?” You don’t have to worry about those kinds of reactions.
New stills from the film show Hugh wearing a long gray wig and prosthetic beard in the starkly lit scenes shot in Northern Ireland
“I knew this would be a challenge for people, but I think if we only give people the versions of characters they’re used to, we won’t grow much.”
The first hour of the film was said to be very somber and bloody, and the director emphasized that it was important to “go really far” to send a message to the audience.
He explained, “Because when people watch, they’re so used to assuming that Robin was a hero and a good guy. I think we had to go a long way to let the audience know, hey, we’re not joking here.”
“We’re saying, ‘This is a cheeky guy. This isn’t some misunderstood hero who just went through a rough patch in his life.’
Michael Sarnoski directs the medieval drama, in which a seriously injured Robin Hood is rescued by a compassionate nun (Jodie Comer) and a group of orphans
Hugh told CinemaBlend that the new look posed some challenges on set, especially while filming the intense fight scenes
‘I had to have a fake beard. And in that scene in the mud, there were a few shots where I put my head up. The beard is gone, ‘Oh, somewhere in there’
Sarnoski has admitted that The Death of Robin Hood will be ‘challenging’ for viewers, but it’s important to ‘give them something different’
The filmmaker doesn’t believe his film shows a “crazy interpretation” of the legend.
He said: “I think in many ways this is not a crazy interpretation of Robin. It’s like, okay, what if some of these violent things actually happened? What if he dealt with it the way a lot of people do, which is that he’s haunted in some ways?
‘Then we arrive at a reasonably accurate representation of the death of Robin Hood, one of the oldest stories.’
“I feel like in many ways this is an interpretation of Robin that’s as accurate as a dancing fox.”
The Death of Robin Hood is due in UK cinemas on September 2.
