How Sean Bean reinvented classic villain Sheriff of Nottingham for all-new Robin Hood series

by

Most heroes need villains, but those villains can sometimes feel like simple foils to the main character. The creators of the new Robin Hood series, Jonathan English and John Glenn, aimed to avoid that common pitfall with their version of the story.

The MGM+ series offers a fresh take on the Sheriff of Nottingham, portrayed by Sean Bean. Instead of a one-dimensional villain, Bean plays a complex character wrestling with his own inner struggles, moving beyond the traditional, cartoonish portrayal often seen.

We aimed to create a sheriff character with a lot of depth – someone caught between his duty to the law and Norman traditions, and the personal challenges he faces. He’s responsible for keeping the peace in Nottingham, and he also has a difficult relationship with his daughter. Sean really captured that complexity and the shades of grey within the character.

The show’s creators not only introduced Bean’s daughter, Priscilla (played by Lydia Peckham), but also praised his remarkable acting talent, noting how he made even simple lines of dialogue feel powerful and unforgettable.

Glenn praised the actor’s incredible talent and collaborative spirit, noting how he elevates even simple scenes with interesting and nuanced choices. He explained that the actor brings depth and complexity to every line, making even minor moments memorable.

The actor known for his role in The Lord of the Rings shares the screen with both fresh faces and established stars like Connie Nielson. The show’s creators were committed to showcasing new talent while also giving their more famous actors significant parts.

Glenn explained that their main goal was to find actors who weren’t already famous to play Robin and Marion, which was difficult. While studios often prefer established stars, Lionsgate and MGM+ were willing to support that vision.

We invested a lot of effort into developing the characters of Eleanor (Nielson) and the Sheriff of Nottingham. We focused on giving them depth and complexity, aiming to create versions audiences hadn’t seen before.

We created a really distinctive take on the Sheriff of Nottingham, and we hoped that would draw in well-known actors who could balance out the cast with some newer faces.

Jack Patten, who played the leader of a group of outlaws named Robin, said he felt fortunate to work alongside actors like Bean and Nielson. He noted that they set a great example for the newer members of the cast.

He described working with Bean as “awesome” and a fantastic experience. He felt fortunate to have worked with such talented and experienced senior actors who led by example, and he and his colleagues learned a great deal from them – not just as performers, but as people too.

We couldn’t have been happier with the team we had. We were all young and eager to prove ourselves, and we were incredibly enthusiastic and motivated.

Robin Hood arrives on MGM+ on Sunday 2nd November 2025.

Read More

2025-11-02 14:04