Jackman on the Mud and the Magic
Hugh Jackman has revealed that he is "still getting mud out of various places" after filming his latest movie,The Death of Robin Hood, in Northern Ireland. The shoot, which took place during winter, presented tough conditions for the cast and crew, but Jackman insists it was all worth it.
Speaking to LADbible, the actor joked that the mud was "real – that was not Hollywood mud," and that it was "still in places in my body." He added that the mud was "so thick and sticky" that crew members frequently lost their shoes while walking through it. Despite the challenges, Jackman described the experience as "one of the great shoots I’ve ever done" in comments reported by the Evening Standard, calling it "my favourite filmmaking experience."
The actor also recalled the beauty of the locations, saying, "We were in some of the most incredible places on the shoreline, in the countryside and the woods." He praised the crew for their resilience, noting that bringing cameras through the mud was "a lot but it was worth it."
A Different Experience for Comer
Jodie Comer, who stars alongside Jackman, had a markedly different experience on set. According to LADbible, Comer spent most of her time in the "clean and peaceful" priory where her character resides, and she did not face much of the mud or extreme weather. She admitted she was "just as taken aback" as audiences might be when she saw the film's opening scenes, which she had not experienced firsthand during filming.
Comer also revealed that she initially did not recognize Jackman on set due to his transformation into the aging Robin Hood. The actor's coat, she noted, was so heavy that it took two people to help him put it on.
The Film's Story and Setting
The Death of Robin Hood is set in the 17th century and follows an older Robin Hood, gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. Taking refuge in a priory, he befriends a prioress, played by Comer, who offers him a chance at salvation. The film, an adaptation of the Robin Hood's Death ballad, sees Robin grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder.
The cast also includes Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett, and Noah Jupe. The film was released in UK cinemas on 2 September, after its US release in June.
Jackman's Reflections on Robin Hood
Jackman shared his initial thoughts on the legendary outlaw, saying, "I had a very specific idea of who Robin Hood was. I think I thought he was a real person. Maybe he was. Maybe he wasn’t." He praised the script for its unique take on the character, describing it as "such an interesting take on him" and "a great sort of examination of the story itself, and the power of mythology."
He also spoke about the film's timeless quality, saying, "I wanted it to feel like if you saw this movie, you wouldn’t be sure if it was made in like the 70s or nowadays because it is sort of this exploration of our relationship to this story, and making it feel kind of like outside of time was important to me."
The actor credited the supportive cast and crew, including hair and makeup artists Sean Flanagan and Pam Westmore, for helping bring the character to life. He also revealed that he studied Sean Bean's accent inGame of Thrones as part of his preparation, while Comer watched videos of Cheryl Cole for a Geordie accent in another project. A dialect coach, Brendan Gunn, also worked on the film.