Most Robin Hood movies show us a charming hero in a green hood. He steals from the rich, gives to the poor, and everyone loves him. But A24's The Death of Robin Hood throws all of that away. This film asks a very different question: what if Robin Hood was never a hero at all? What if he was just a violent, tired old man waiting to die?
With Hugh Jackman in the lead role, director Michael Sarnoski has made something truly unexpected. This is not an action film. It is not a fun adventure. It is a quiet, brutal, and deeply emotional story about guilt, violence, and whether a man can ever be forgiven for the things he has done.
The Death of Robin Hood opens in theaters on June 19, 2026. Here is everything you need to know.
What Is The Death of Robin Hood About?
The story takes place in 1247 A.D. Robin Hood (Hugh Jackman) is old now. He lives alone, hidden away from the world. He has long white hair, a ragged beard, and the eyes of someone who has seen too much death — most of it caused by his own hands.
Right from the first scene, the movie makes one thing clear: this is not the Robin Hood from fairy tales. People keep coming to kill him. And he keeps killing them first.
One day, his old friend Little John — now calling himself Edward and played by Bill Skarsgård — finds him. Edward has a farm, a wife, and a child. But a group of violent men want to take everything from him. He needs Robin's help for one last fight.
That fight does not go well. Robin is badly wounded and left near death.
He is then taken to a remote island abbey, where Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer), a calm and deeply faithful woman, takes care of him. As Robin slowly heals, he has to face something harder than any battle — his own past. The ghosts of everyone he has hurt or killed begin to close in on him.
The film is based on an old English ballad called Robin Hood's Death, written several centuries ago. But director Sarnoski has turned it into something very modern and very personal.
The Cast — Who Is In The Death of Robin Hood?
Hugh Jackman as Robin Hood
This is Hugh Jackman like you have never seen him before. He is unrecognizable — covered in dirt, scars, and exhaustion. If you loved him as Wolverine, you will see some of that same raw energy here. But this time, there is no heroism to hide behind.
Jackman has said in interviews that this role felt like a chance to explore "what happens to a violent man when he runs out of excuses." He delivers every line like it costs him something. It is, many critics are saying, one of the best performances of his career.
Jodie Comer as Sister Brigid
Jodie Comer, best known for Killing Eve and 28 Years Later, plays Sister Brigid with quiet strength. She is not a weak or passive character. She challenges Robin, questions him, and refuses to pretend that his past does not matter. She is the moral heart of the film.
Bill Skarsgård as Little John (Edward)
Bill Skarsgård, who terrified audiences as Pennywise in It and as Count Orlok in Nosferatu, is almost impossible to recognize here. He plays a softer, more vulnerable character — a man who just wants a normal life. His scenes with Jackman are some of the most powerful in the film.
Supporting Cast
- Noah Jupe plays Arthur, a young man with a personal reason to hate Robin Hood.
- Murray Bartlett plays a leper who becomes an unlikely friend to Robin.
- Faith Delaney plays Little Margaret, a troubled young girl on the island.
The Director — Who Made This Film?
Michael Sarnoski is not a household name yet, but he should be. His first film, Pig (2021), starred Nicolas Cage as a truffle hunter looking for his stolen pig. It sounds funny. It was actually one of the most emotional and surprising films of that year.
His second film was A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), which showed he could handle bigger budgets and bigger stories.
The Death of Robin Hood feels like the film he has been building toward. In an interview, Sarnoski explained his vision clearly: "Robin Hood was this murderous outlaw who did a lot of terrible things. But he lived long enough to see folklore get created about him. He is figuring out how he feels about being portrayed as a hero when he knows what he really was."
That idea — the gap between legend and reality — runs through every frame of this movie.
What Makes This Robin Hood Film Different?
Hollywood has tried to bring Robin Hood back twice in recent memory, and both times it failed:
- Robin Hood (2010) with Russell Crowe — audiences stayed away.
- Robin Hood (2018) with Taron Egerton — same result.
Both of those films wanted to be big, exciting blockbusters. Sarnoski does the opposite. He strips everything away.
The film was shot on 35mm film in Northern Ireland. The landscapes are cold, grey, and beautiful. There is mud on everything. The fight scenes are not choreographed or exciting — they are messy, fast, and frightening. People get hurt in ways that do not look cool at all.
The color palette shifts too. Cinematographer Pat Scola shoots the first part of the film in the wide 2.40:1 format, which makes the world feel vast and empty. Later, as the story becomes more personal, the frame shrinks to 1.66:1, making everything feel closer and more claustrophobic. It is a small detail, but it says a lot about how carefully this film was made.
Think of it this way: if Robin Hood (2010) was a summer blockbuster, The Death of Robin Hood is closer to a Cormac McCarthy novel turned into film.
What Are Critics Saying?
The film premiered at the Sydney Film Festival on June 12, 2026, and critics have been paying attention.
RogerEbert.com compared it to Unforgiven, calling it a film that deconstructs the Robin Hood myth in a way that "feels especially apt in 2026." Time Out gave it four out of five stars, calling Jackman "terrific" and praising the film for finding "new textures and humanity" in a very old story. SlashFilm called it an "ultra-violent, melancholy myth deconstruction." CBR said it shows "a much different version of the English folk hero — one who is older, beaten down, and disillusioned with his own myth."
Not every critic loved it. The Hollywood Reporter was more negative, calling parts of the film a "tedious slog" and suggesting that Sarnoski's slow approach may frustrate mainstream audiences who came looking for entertainment.
So what does that mean for you? If you like slow, thoughtful films that make you feel something, this is absolutely worth your time. If you want action and fun, this is probably not the film for you.
Should You Watch The Death of Robin Hood?
Watch it if you enjoy:
- Character-driven dramas with real emotional weight
- Films like Logan, Unforgiven, or The Northman
- A24's brand of dark, artistic cinema
- Hugh Jackman giving everything he has to a role
Skip it if you want:
- Action sequences and fight choreography
- A feel-good Robin Hood story
- Fast pacing and crowd-pleasing moments
Final Verdict
The Death of Robin Hood is not an easy film to watch. It is slow, dark, and uncompromising. But it is also honest in a way that most big movies are afraid to be.
Hugh Jackman has never been better. Jodie Comer holds the entire emotional center of the story together. And Michael Sarnoski has made a film that asks real questions about violence, legend, and the stories we tell to make ourselves feel better about the things we have done.
This is the Robin Hood film that did not need to exist — until it did.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5)
The Death of Robin Hood opens in theaters on June 19, 2026, distributed by A24 in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does The Death of Robin Hood release?
A: The Death of Robin Hood releases in theaters on June 19, 2026. It is distributed by A24 in the United States and True Brit Entertainment in the UK and Ireland.
Q: Who plays Robin Hood in The Death of Robin Hood?
A: Hugh Jackman plays Robin Hood. He is joined by Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Noah Jupe, and Murray Bartlett.
Q: Who directed The Death of Robin Hood?
A: The film is written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, who previously directed Pig (2021) and A Quiet Place: Day One (2024).
Q: Is The Death of Robin Hood based on a true story?
A: It is based on an old English ballad called Robin Hood's Death, written several centuries ago. It is not based on historical fact, but on folklore.
Q: Is The Death of Robin Hood family-friendly?
A: No. The film is rated R for strong violence and dark themes. It is not suitable for children.
Q: Is The Death of Robin Hood connected to any previous Robin Hood movies?
A: No. It is a completely standalone story with no connection to the 2010 or 2018 Robin Hood films.
Q: Where was The Death of Robin Hood filmed?
A: The film was shot entirely in Northern Ireland on 35mm film.
 Review – Hugh Jackman's Darkest Role Yet){kind=link}