Not bad going, Sir Ridley. Not bad at all. 

Variety have tonight confirmed actor Mark Strong’s claim last month that Cate Blanchett will play Maid Marian in Universal’s $130 million tentpole movie ROBIN HOOD, Scott’s first big adventure blockbuster since GLADIATOR. 

The addition of Blanchett, possibly the greatest actress of her generation, raises the bar of this production to all new heights.

Though I’m still of the opinion that Crowe is badly cast to play ROBIN HOOD in an origin movie, as this is being setup as. If you’ve seen 3:10 TO YUMA, you’ve already witnessed Crowe play the perfect embodiment of the charming bastard The Sheriff of Nottingham. Physically he is better for that part, his acting style more suitable, we all know the older Crowe makes a better bad guy than a good guy. 

Another Aussie actor, Sam Worthington, I would have loved seen go up against Crowe’s Sheriff here. 

Previously titled NOTTINGHAM, Brian Helgeland’s (MYSTIC RIVER, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL) recent re-draft takes Scott’s movie straight back into classic ROBIN HOOD fare and will re-tell the familiar story of The Sheriff’s trouble with Robin of Loxley and his Merry Men. 

Mark Strong (Guy of Gisbourne), William Hurt (King John) and in unknown roles Vanessa Redgrave, Saorise Ronan and BODY OF LIES actor Oscar Isaac support. 

We await news of who will be playing The Sheriff (hell, i would love to see Alan Rickman do it again) and whether Will Scarlett, Friar Tuck, Littlejohn and the rest of the gang will be making their presence known.