THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD (2026)

Genre: Drama/Adventure
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett, Noah Jupe, Faith Delaney
Runtime: 2 hr 2 mins
Rating: NC16 (Violence and Gore)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 9 July 2026

Synopsis: Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation.

Movie Review:

Forget your impressions of Kevin Costner’s, Russell Crowe’s, or even Disney’s 1973 version of Robin Hood—the legendary outlaw from Sherwood Forest who robbed the rich to feed the poor. Michael Sarnoski’s The Death of Robin Hood presents a vastly different interpretation: a violent, brooding man haunted by a dark and bloody past, far removed from the familiar folk hero audiences have long embraced.

Hugh Jackman plays an aging Robin Hood, living in isolation in the wilderness and burdened by memories of his murderous past. His quiet existence is disrupted when his old companion, Little John (Bill Skarsgård), seeks his help to rescue his wife and young daughter, Margaret. The cycle of violence Robin desperately wishes to leave behind begins anew, and the bloody rescue leaves both men gravely wounded.

Little John brings the injured Robin to a secluded island, where Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer) nurses him back to health. Living under the name Randolph, Robin gradually finds peace among the island’s small community, befriending a leper (Murray Bartlett) and becoming a father figure to Margaret. But can a man like Robin, a notorious outlaw responsible for countless deaths ever truly find peace, forgiveness, or redemption?

Sarnoski reimagines Robin as a man who dismisses his own legendary exploits as little more than lies. Curiously, audiences never witness Robin in his prime or the atrocities that made him infamous. We only catch glimpses of the ruthless warrior he once was, particularly during the film’s brutal opening sequence, where a young boy is fatally struck by one of Robin’s arrows. After the first blood-soaked 30 minutes, however, the film shifts into a contemplative character study, focusing on Robin’s search for redemption and his attempts to guide someone who may otherwise follow the same violent path.

The Death of Robin Hood explores how a once-feared man confronts guilt, remorse, and the possibility of repentance, while weaving Christian themes throughout its narrative. It’s familiar territory, and Sarnoski tells the story at an unhurried pace, relying on lengthy, introspective conversations complemented by Pat Scola’s breathtaking cinematography, which beautifully captures the rugged Irish landscape.

Aside from Robin, the film’s most compelling character is the gentle and compassionate Sister Brigid, who believes that stories of God can heal both physical and emotional wounds. Yet Brigid harbors secrets of her own, including a connection to Robin that is best left undiscovered before watching the film.

Running close to two hours, The Death of Robin Hood is far from commercial entertainment. It’s slow, meditative, and occasionally heavy-handed in its religious symbolism. There is little here that resembles the swashbuckling adventure or triumphant heroism typically associated with Robin Hood. Instead, the film feels like an extended therapy session for a dying man seeking absolution, as well as for those whose lives have been scarred by his violence.

Having already seen Hugh Jackman portray another weary, battle-scarred icon in Logan, it’s no surprise that he slips effortlessly into the role of an exhausted, broken Robin Hood. Jodie Comer delivers a solid performance, although her character ultimately isn’t given enough material to be as compelling as some of her previous roles. An almost unrecognisable Bill Skarsgård is excellent as Little John, though it’s disappointing that his character largely disappears from the narrative before the halfway mark.

Michael Sarnoski has never been a filmmaker interested in following mainstream conventions or chasing commercial appeal and The Death of Robin Hood continues that trend. It is a quiet, introspective, and unconventional take on one of literature’s greatest legends, one that will likely divide audiences. Those expecting an action-packed Robin Hood adventure may leave disappointed, but viewers willing to embrace its slower, more reflective approach may find it a rewarding meditation on guilt, redemption, and the possibility of forgiveness.

Movie Rating:

(An unique, contemplative portrait of a broken man searching for redemption in the twilight of his life)

Review by Linus Tee