Sony to Create a "Universe" of Robin Hood Movies
- Thread starter MovieBob
- Start date
OK, I'm confused. Why do they think, of all the ideas out there, that Robin Hood is the setting to base a shared universe of films around? Part of the reason it worked so well in Marvel, beyond the effort made to find good actors to inhabit the roles, good directors to make the films etc., was because each of the main characters were very different and had a unique set of skills, experiences and talents that wildly differed from each of the others. Beyond maybe one trait, two at most, what separates the characters of Robin Hood from one another? Robin is good with a bow, Little John is pretty strong (relative to other, mundane people anyway), Friar Tuck...I guess could read or something? Will Scarlet...crap, what WAS Will Scarlet's thing, being a pretty-boy?
None of these characters alone really have the kind of strong, clearly distinguishable traits need to build a solo movie around, without drastically changing up their characters to such a massive degree that they'll likely only resemble those characters by their names and a few key points in their backgrounds. Now what I could see more sense in (although still a terrible idea) would be to do a shared-universe series of films with classic characters from stories around the world, like Sinbad, Odysseus and indeed Robin Hood, all of whom might wind up finding that they share some common goal or enemy hinted at throughout the films that requires them to join forces. Those characters are all have a very different flavour while still sharing a few common themes, and thus they could draw upon a much wider pool of ideas and influences to make it more than a bunch of grubby Englishmen hanging out in a wood for however many films they want to spin it out over.
At this rate, we'll be getting an Ocean's 11 reboot, with 11 separate movies to build each of the characters before going on the damn heist.
None of these characters alone really have the kind of strong, clearly distinguishable traits need to build a solo movie around, without drastically changing up their characters to such a massive degree that they'll likely only resemble those characters by their names and a few key points in their backgrounds. Now what I could see more sense in (although still a terrible idea) would be to do a shared-universe series of films with classic characters from stories around the world, like Sinbad, Odysseus and indeed Robin Hood, all of whom might wind up finding that they share some common goal or enemy hinted at throughout the films that requires them to join forces. Those characters are all have a very different flavour while still sharing a few common themes, and thus they could draw upon a much wider pool of ideas and influences to make it more than a bunch of grubby Englishmen hanging out in a wood for however many films they want to spin it out over.
At this rate, we'll be getting an Ocean's 11 reboot, with 11 separate movies to build each of the characters before going on the damn heist.
Fair enough. Admittedly I hadn't considered the comic book industry (not my area of expertise), and the Kaiju movies slipped my mind.Dead Metal said:
They really are scrapping the bottom of their barrel of adaptations here, right?
I am curious. Is any of the other character known in any way other than just as Robin Hood's pals? Does any of them has a legend behind themselves before or after Robin? This is not like they are trying to make a new "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (by the way, get to work into that, it sounds like a better idea than this crap), this is more in line with the Sinister Six line of movies...
I am curious. Is any of the other character known in any way other than just as Robin Hood's pals? Does any of them has a legend behind themselves before or after Robin? This is not like they are trying to make a new "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (by the way, get to work into that, it sounds like a better idea than this crap), this is more in line with the Sinister Six line of movies...
I think Graham Chapman summarized my opinion on the latest news about the whole aping the cinematic universe thing quite well. A couple decades before I was born. Anyway.
Oh great, I suppose Friar Tuck is going to be another muscle bound ass-kicking martial artist?
Please no, just no, or I'll have to yet again rinse my eyes out by watching the Errol Flynn classic and rewatching all 143 episodes of...
Please no, just no, or I'll have to yet again rinse my eyes out by watching the Errol Flynn classic and rewatching all 143 episodes of...
this thing
Terrible idea. Why is building a universe a thing now? Robin Hood isnt that popular anyway, even English people dont really care all that much about him.
I think it's mostly because Robbin Hood is public domain. They could go with some book series, but they'd have to pay royalties and licensing fees. Robin Hood is something pretty much everyone is familiar with, where as even something like Ender's Game doesn't have universal recognition.hermes200 said:
Also, Robin Hood is a grounded story. Medieval, but not fantasy. Which cuts back a lot on big fancy CGI that a sci-fi, fantasy, or superhero series would demand.
This whole "cinematic universe" concept is gonna ruin cinema for a while, isn't it?
I can't believe I'm about to say it, but DAMMIT MARVEL! Look what you've done!
I can't believe I'm about to say it, but DAMMIT MARVEL! Look what you've done!
I think they've learned all the wrong lessons from marvel. If franchises are bad for story telling (because they don't end) then a shared universe of interconnected universes is even worse. Stark will never control his alcohol problem. Hulk will never control his anger. There will be no good character development. We don't need this in other films. They're already doing this with star wars. Let it die with marvel.Dalrien said:
Not before I get my downfall of numenor movie though.
Yeah... so is Oz, but I doubt many people would be interested in a movie about the adventures of the Wicked Witch of the West.JMac85 said:
I get your point, I just think its kind of an overkill to try to use secondary or tertiary characters to create a cinematic universe. Like it or not, B-list in Marvel were still relevant enough to get their own line of comics at some point. These are not fleshed out characters... I mostly remember Will Scarlet for the knives joke in Men in Tights.
I guess my problem with turning this into a "universe" is that none of those characters had any adventures of their own. As far as I am aware, they are solely known for being recruited by Robin Hood and his Merry Men. I believe a lot more characters (even within public domain) could be more suitable. Heck, they could made up a universe based around public domain protagonists meeting up (like comics did with League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Fables), and it would be a more interesting premise. Make it a universe where Don Quixote, Cyrano de Bergerac and Horacio share adventures with Robin Hood and I would be more interested than a whole movie about Little John.
Yeah, but then you have to deal with some spiky haired emo git coming along and unintentionally setting the whole thing into motion again.blackrave said:
Stephen Lawhead sort of did it, so I could see it working to some extent. But still, ehhhhh?
Of course, I'm only bringing it up because you brought it up, so...self-fulfilling prophecy?
Considering how much of a stretch he had to make, the point you "can't wait for" isn't particularly, you know, invalid. Though at least he's walked himself back from claiming it to be a commercial failure because he didn't like it.VoltySquirrel said:
Of course, I'm only bringing it up because you brought it up, so...self-fulfilling prophecy?
It doesn't look like it's a reboot, but a successor. FFS, the last I saw, its subtitle was "The Next Generation." I wonder if the entertainment "news" would consider Star Trek: TNG to be a reboot. I mean, I was never a fan of the show, but as a reboot, it's even worse. Beverly Crusher is Bones? Will the SJWs never stop?PunkRex said:
How does that even work? The Avengers worked because it starred all people that were capable of carrying their own movie.
How would they do that with Robin Hood?
Maid Marrion first appears in a costume drama?
CSI 900 AD with the Sheriff Of Nothingham?
Friar Tuck's Passion Of The Grape?
The whole problem is that in the original story everything is about the character of Robin Hood himself. All the people around him are just bit players, minor people that have hardly any impact on the story and could never carry a story on their own.
This is just mad nonsense.
How would they do that with Robin Hood?
Maid Marrion first appears in a costume drama?
CSI 900 AD with the Sheriff Of Nothingham?
Friar Tuck's Passion Of The Grape?
The whole problem is that in the original story everything is about the character of Robin Hood himself. All the people around him are just bit players, minor people that have hardly any impact on the story and could never carry a story on their own.
This is just mad nonsense.