“A diamond of a period drama”: Sean Bean embarks on a “romantic” adventure in “legendary” Robin Hood series

He's already proved his period drama worth in Disney+'s Shardlake and now, Sean Bean is back at it in a new TV adaptation of Robin Hood. Starring the This City is Ours’ actor as the Sheriff of Nottingham, the legendary folk tale is getting a modern update via MGM+, blending historical authenticity with romantic adventure - and it's set to be another diamond of a period drama!

While the upcoming 10-part series is billed as having a “modern energy”, it’s still very much a period drama. It’s set in 12th-century England (with villages and castles borrowed from shooting location Serbia), and a first-look still from the series shows candles burning in a stone hall with elaborate period costumes. As well as Bean playing the villainous Sheriff, screen newcomer Jack Patten will play the titular outlaw folk hero (no pressure!), while Hollyoaks’ Lauren McQueen takes the role of love interest Marian.

While we await the arrival of Robin Hood and his band of merry men on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the new TV series, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

What will the Robin Hood series be about?

In a shake-up to the classic tale, the series is set to dig into the courageous outlaw’s early life - played by Jack Patten, he’s known as “Rob” in this series, rather than Robin. “We actually show the beginning of Robin Hood,” producer, director and writer Jonathan English has said. “We start the story with him as a child.” We also know that Shardlake star Sean Bean (pictured in Shardlake below) will star as the Sheriff of Nottingham,

The official synopsis reads: “Robin Hood brings a modern energy to the classic tale of the roguish outlaw hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, and the epic love story between him and a courageous and daring Marian (Lauren McQueen). It is a smart, sweeping, romantic adventure that brings historical authenticity, psychological depth, and a heightened focus on the relationship between Rob and Marian to the beloved story.”

It continues: “Following the Norman invasion of England, Rob - a Saxon forester’s son - and Marian, the daughter of a Norman lord - fall in love and work together to fight for justice and freedom. As Rob rises as the leader of a band of rebel outlaws, Marian infiltrates the power at court, as both work together to thwart royal corruption and bring peace to the land.”

What happens in the original story of Robin Hood?

The character of Robin Hood has been depicted in folklore for centuries (he first crops up in a 1300s poem) meaning it’s less one story and more a varied patchwork of ballads and folk tales. In these tales, he’s a master archer and swordsman who lives beyond the reach of society’s rules. Along the way, he clashes with the Sheriff of Nottingham, his men, and the King’s foresters.

In popular culture, Robin Hood and his band of "merry men" are portrayed as living in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, with companions such as Little John and Will by his side - and, of course, love interest Maid Marian. Above all, Robin Hood is best known for his famed code: stealing from the rich to give to the poor, making him one of storytelling’s best champions of justice.

Who’s in the cast of Robin Hood?

The cast of Robin Hood includes:

• Jack Patten as Robin "Rob" Hood
• Lauren McQueen as Marian
• Sean Bean as the Sheriff of Nottingham
• Lydia Peckham as Priscilla of Nottingham
• Steven Waddington as the Earl of Huntingdon
• Marcus Fraser as Little John
• Angus Castle-Doughty as Friar Tuck
• Henry Rowley as Will
• Connie Nielsen as Eleanor of Aquitaine
• Richard Lintern as the Bishop of Hereford
• Erica Ford as Ralph Miller
• Ryan Gage as Spragart
• Oscar Salem as Marshal, the Earl of Pembroke
• Miloš Timotijević as Egbert
• Tamara Radovanović
• Graeme Thomas King as Prince John
• Tom Mison as Hugh Locksley
• Anastasia Griffith as Joan Locksley
• Matija Gredić as Drew Miller
• Mihailo Lazić as Henry
• Boban Marjanović as Drogo
• Jelena Gavrilović as Godda

Is Robin Hood worth watching?

Yes - it’s got all the ingredients of a must-see period drama. With Sean Bean in a key role and an emphasis on the romance between Rob and Marian, we're expecting the series to be as legendary as the original tale itself!

How can I watch Robin Hood?

MGM+ hasn't yet shared a release date for Robin Hood, but we do know that it will arrive on MGM+ in the US at some point this year, and it will also be available to watch on MGM+ in the U.K., Italy, Germany, Spain, Latin America, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we'll share it here.