Hugh Jackman has undergone a striking transformation for his role as a bloodthirsty Robin Hood in the upcoming A24 film, "The Death of Robin Hood." The movie, set to release in UK cinemas next week, presents a grim reimagining of the folklore legend, depicting an aging outlaw as a vengeful vigilante.
New images from the production showcase Jackman, 57, with a long grey wig and a prosthetic beard, filmed in dimly lit scenes across Northern Ireland. Director Michael Sarnoski's vision is a significant departure from traditional portrayals, with the story focusing on a wounded Robin Hood reflecting on his past sins after being rescued by a nun, played by Jodie Comer, and a group of orphans.
Jackman described the prosthetic beard as a practical challenge during filming, particularly during intense battle sequences. "I had to have a fake beard. And in that scene in the mud, there were a couple of takes where I put my head up. The beard's gone, 'Oh, somewhere in there,'" he recalled. He added that by the end of some takes, gaffer tape was used underneath the beard to keep it in place amidst the mud and action.
The distinctive look was conceived by Jackman's longtime hair and makeup team. "Sean Flanagan, I have to give him props. He's my hair guy. He has worked with me on a lot of films," Jackman said of his hair stylist. "Pamela Westmore, who does make-up, the two of them, we were sitting in the trailer at Song Sung Blue, and both of them, they looked at me and I said, 'What's going on?' And they said, 'We've come up with what we think could be a cool look.' And I looked at it I went, 'Wow.' It's pretty much what you saw. And I sent it immediately to Michael, and he was like, 'Perfect.' And that was it. And then they had to work out how to do it. And that wig held up really, really well."
Sarnoski acknowledged that "The Death of Robin Hood" will be a challenging viewing experience but emphasized the importance of offering audiences something new. "I think if we only give people the versions of characters that they're used to, we're just not going to grow very much," he stated.
The film's initial hour is reportedly bleak and violent, a deliberate choice by Sarnoski to convey the character's brutality. "Because when people watch, they are so used to assuming that Robin was a hero and a good guy. I think we had to go really far with it to let the audience know, hey, we're not kidding around here," the director explained. "We're saying, 'This is a brutal guy. This isn't a misunderstood hero who has just had a hard lot in life.'"
Sarnoski does not consider his interpretation to be extreme, suggesting it explores the potential reality of a historical figure known for violence. "I think in a lot of ways, like, this isn't some crazy interpretation of Robin. It's just like, OK, what if some of these violent things actually happened? What if he handled that like a lot of humans do, which is that he is haunted in some ways?" he mused. The film aims to lead into what he described as a "fairly accurate portrayal of the death of Robin Hood scene, which is one of the oldest stories."