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Robin Hood is one of these stories that will still be getting rebooted 100 years from now, when we’re all living in space following the collapse of society, but will those reboots follow the swashbuckling take on the mythical figure, or will they go for the prestige angle? Well, A24 seems to be going different for the latest adaptation. For one thing, it’s R-rated, and for another, it’s got Wolverine playing the legendary outlaw as a much older, bloodier, more haunted figure.
The Death of Robin Hood has now debuted on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics appear to be split on the dark fantasy remake. The film currently sits at 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, while Metacritic has it at 63 out of 100. On the whole, that feels like it’s an admirable film but that elements of it are so drastic it may not be for everyone, which feels on point because there don’t seem to be many merry men, or anyone for that matter. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, the film reimagines Robin Hood not as a clean-cut folk hero, but as an aging outlaw forced to reckon with a violent past after being gravely injured in battle.
The cast includes Hugh Jackman (Logan) as Robin Hood, Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) as Sister Brigid, Bill Skarsgård (It) as Edward, Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) as The Leper, and Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place) as Arthur.
Is ‘The Death of Robin Hood’ Worth Watching?
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Bob Strauss gave it a perfect 10/10, calling it “a cold hell of mud, blood and homicidal intent,” while Bloody Disgusting’s Meagan Navarro gave it 4/5 and praised the way Sarnoski got rid of the simple notion of heroes and villains. Deadline’s Pete Hammond called it possibly “the most demanding Robin Hood you will ever encounter,” but also perhaps “the most honest.” Variety’s Guy Lodge landed at 7/10, praising the film’s “severity of its reinvention” and its rare interest in “matters of the soul.”
Not everyone was fully sold. IGN and Slash Film both landed at 7/10, admiring the film’s mood and brutality while acknowledging that it wouldn’t have a massively wide appeal. The AV Club gave it a C, saying the film is so committed to going against the grain that it feels “drained of vitality,” while The Playlist also landed at a C, calling it technically admirable but emotionally difficult to get with.
The Death of Robin Hood opens in theaters on June 19.