Contributed by Christopher Campbell
Ridley Scott just added another cast member to his untitled Robin Hood film, which has already begun shooting, and which had seemed to be fully employed as of the last casting news late last month. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Oscar-winning actor William Hurt joins as the historical figure William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, a legendary knight and statesman most renowned for his reputation as the greatest jouster of his time.
Despite the character’s tournament-winning legacy, however, it’s doubtful Hurt will appear in chain mail, brandishing a lance in contest. By the time of the Robin Hood story, William Marshal was in his late 40s, had married into nobility and was serving King Richard as a member of the ruling class. Fans of jousting will have to instead settle with “A Knight’s Tale,” starring Heath Ledger in a role said to be based on Marshal.
For Scott’s film, William Marshal will have to be portrayed as the noble Earl of Pembroke, who initially agreed with Prince John’s takeover as interim ruler of England while Richard was away. Later, though, Marshal disagreed with John and sided with the loyalists (which would include Robin Hood) in the fight against the villainous prince. Hopefully, due to the character’s knighthood background, we’ll at least get to see the 59-year-old Hurt go into some kind of battle alongside the Merry Men following his change in loyalty.
Hurt, who received his fourth Oscar nomination three years ago for playing the villain in David Cronenberg’s “A History of Violence,” has been successful lately in acquiring scene-stealing supporting roles, whether in serious films like “The Good Shepherd” or genre movies like “The Incredible Hulk.” It will be interesting to see if he can turn this latest minor part into another notable performance, especially if he can take some of the spotlight off lead actor Russell Crowe.
What do you think? Does William Hurt bring additional prestige to this Robin Hood movie or will his casting remind you too much of his monumental duds, such as “Lost in Space” and “Vantage Point”?