BBC series tells Robin Hood story to modern generation
BBC series tells Robin Hood story to modern generation

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By Matthew Price

Published: July 27, 2007

The enduring legend of Robin Hood, the English outlaw who robs from the rich and gives to the poor, is reaching a new generation through the BBC series, which airs in the U.S. on BBC America.

The first season, available on DVD, introduces Robin of Locksley (Jonas Armstrong), a soldier and nobleman returning from the Crusades with a newfound respect for life and a desire not to kill.

"The shorthand is, really what we hope we've done is create ‘Pirates of the Caribbean' for outlaws,” executive producer Foz Allan said. "The way that ‘Pirates' has rescued the pirate movie, and made it accessible and good fun again, I think we're trying to do that on TV for Robin.”

In the first season of "Robin Hood,” which aired stateside on BBC America, nobleman Robin has returned from King Richard's crusade. However, the onerous taxes and draconian punishments of the Sheriff of Nottingham (Keith Allen) put Robin at odds with the ruling council. One of that council, Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage), was hoping Robin wouldn't return, as Gisborne wanted Robin's lands — and Robin's former paramour, Maid Marian (Lucy Griffiths).

Though Gisborne is cold-hearted, Allan said the rough-hewn nobleman also has his fans.

"Richard Armitage is fantastically charismatic and sexy,” Allan said. "I suppose I've been surprised at how sexy the show is, people getting inundated with fan mail and all that kind of stuff.

"Anybody under 30 is absolutely in love with Robin Hood, anybody over 30 is in love with Guy of Gisborne.”

Allan said the small chance of redemption or understanding of Gisborne's motives helps to make him a more intriguing character.

"It's why the emperor has so little to do in ‘Star Wars,' but Darth Vader has loads,” he said. "There's something underneath there that's interesting, lurking. If we could only get it out. That's kind of what we're going for for Gisborne.”

Gisborne and the sheriff manage to separate Robin from his land, as they plan to execute several of Robin's friends. When Robin aids their escape, he becomes an outlaw, living in Sherwood Forest.

Allan said the theme of taking from the rich and giving back to the poor has made Robin Hood an enduring legend, and each generation puts its spin on that theme.

"Undermining authority is always a great theme — I'm literally driving past the Houses of Parliament as we speak — we're undermining authority, that's absolutely what we should be doing (with ‘Robin Hood'),” Allan said. "And there's somebody out there fighting for the little guy. That's an absolutely essential theme, and a cultural theme across almost every society.”

Allan said the creators did draw some inspiration from current events.

"We were interested in the absent king fighting a war in the Holy Land for reasons that nobody's quite clear about, whilst the country suffers a little bit,” he said. "It's certainly been a UK perception of what's gone on in Baghdad.”

"Robin Hood” is scheduled to return for a second season later this year, which Allan said would up the stakes from the show's first season.

"The sheriff is planning a coup d'etat, so when King Richard lands, returns from the Holy Land, he'll be wiped out. Prince John will become king, the sheriff will become chancellor of England, i.e. the richest man in England,” Allan said. "That's the plan, that every one of the sheriff's scams is generating money or men or income or technology for that coup. It's not just about the little guy down the road; it's about the soul of England.”

The soul of modern England has embraced the new Robin Hood.

"(Armstrong) gets mauled in the streets now,” Allan said.

"Each generation has its own Robin Hood, and we set out to create the icon for this generation, the PlayStation generation,” Allan said. "And I think we've done that.”

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