Protagonist Pictures CEO Dave Bishop calls it a 'radical new take' that turns mythology on its head with 'genuine moral complexity.'
Why is the guy who plays Homelander suddenly in a British folklore retelling? Is Hollywood finally running out of superhero capes or just looking for a gritty, grounded pivot?
Production begins Nov. 9. Directed by Patrick Vollrath. Cast includes Thomasin McKenzie, Finn Cole, and Antony Starr. Financed by augenschein and Logical Pictures Group.
The 'Homelander' pivot to historical heist thriller is official. Get your tights ready.
The legend of Robin Hood is getting a serious, sweat-soaked overhaul, and the casting choices are raising eyebrows in all the right places. Variety reports that Thomasin McKenzie, Finn Cole, and Antony Starr are set to lead "The Lie of Sherwood Forest," a new retelling of the classic folklore that promises to strip away the merry men’s whimsy in favor of a "grounded, hard-hitting fight for survival." The film, which launches at the upcoming American Film Market (AFM), is being handled by Logical Pictures International and Protagonist Pictures.
If you thought the era of the polished, Disney-fied Robin Hood was over, think again—this one looks like it’s trading the green velvet for dirty linen and moral ambiguity. The casting of Antony Starr, best known for his terrifyingly charismatic turn as Homelander in Amazon’s "The Boys," alongside Finn Cole of "Peaky Blinders" and "Last Breath," signals a clear shift toward high-octane, character-driven tension. Directed by Patrick Vollrath, who helmed the tense aviation thriller "7500," the project is produced by German company augenschein.
The synopsis reveals a plot where Robin Hood and his companions are deceived by a young woman into a daring rescue mission that spirals into a "perilous heist." As loyalties fracture, the outlaws must confront the true cost of challenging power. It’s not just a story about stealing from the rich; it’s about the price of the lie itself. The financial and production muscle behind this reboot is substantial, with funding support from major German entities like the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) and the European Investment Fund.
Jonas Katzenstein of augenschein noted that the team is excited to reunite with Vollrath after their collaboration on "7500," aiming to take that "edge-of-your-seat tension" to a new level. Dave Bishop, CEO of Protagonist Pictures, described the vision as "electrifying," promising a blend of "gripping set pieces with genuine moral complexity." This isn’t your grandfather’s arrow-shooting contest; it’s a visceral action thriller with a contemporary edge. Rounding out the cast are Smylie Bradwell, Brian Vernel, and Richard Durden, adding serious weight to the ensemble.
The screenplay, written by Harris Kauffman based on a story by Joachim Hedén and Patrick Vollrath, frames the narrative around a single desperate deception that changes the course of the legend forever. With production kicking off on November 9, the industry is watching closely to see if this European-American hybrid can breathe new life into a story that has been told a thousand times. One thing’s for sure: if Homelander can’t be trusted to save Sherwood, who can?
