MGM+ Orders a New 'Robin Hood' Adaptation

Pretty much everyone knows the story of Robin Hood. Stories about the legendary British folk hero, who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, have been around since the fourteenth century, ever since the character first appeared in William Langland's Middle English narrative poem Piers Plowman. And the infamous archer, his band of merry men, and their hideout in Sherwood Forest have captivated audiences from around the world ever since.

There have been adaptations of the legend in virtually every medium imaginable. From feature films and television programs to operas, video games, and comic books, Robin Hood has been everywhere. The character has appeared on The Muppet Show and Sesame Street. He met Doctor Who's Twelfth Doctor. And he may or may not be a direct ancestor of Last of the Summer Wine's Billy Hardcastle. So it probably shouldn't surprise anyone that streamer MGM+ has announced a new ten-part Robin Hood series is in development. The better question is why it's been so long since we last had one.

To be fair, Robin Hood movies tend to arrive fairly regularly. Both Russell Crowe (Gladiator) and Targon Egerton (Rocketman) led big blockbuster feature film adaptations in 2010 and 2018, respectively, and Hugh Jackman (Deadpool and Wolverine) and Jodie Comer (The End We Start From) are set to star in the forthcoming The Death of Robin Hood. But we haven't had a TV take on the legend since the 2006 BBC adventure drama Robin Hood that starred Jonas Armstrong (After the Flood) and Richard Armitage (Missing You).