The Hollywood Reporter is reporting Universal Pictures has landed the rights to Nottingham, a Robin Hood project from writers Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris (Sleeper Cell). Russell Crowe will be reuniting with Imagine Entertainment and Universal (A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, American Gangster) and will be taking on the lead role of the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Universal Pictures picked up the spec script for a reported seven figures with an eye on releasing the action drama in 2009.
Reiff and Voris took a different approach to the classic tale by casting the Sheriff of Nottingham as the story's good guy. Their unique approach to the Robin Hood story set off a bidding war with Universal Pictures emerging as the victor over Warner Bros, New Line, and Columbia Pictures.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project is attracting the interest of A-list directors including Sam Raimi (Spider-Man 3) and Bryan Singer (Superman Returns).
