Hugh Jackman is ready to let go of the hero myth. For decades, he has been Hollywood’s ultimate, pristine showman, but The Death of Robin Hood shatters that blueprint. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, this dark, gritty reimagining strips away the merry men and the glamorous folklore, delivering a weary, deconstructed look at a fading legend. It marks a fierce, introspective new phase of Jackman’s career, one where he is actively reinventing himself by leaning into raw vulnerability. 

“[The Death of Robin Hood] is almost a cautionary tale about the power of story and mythology: about the stories we believe, the ones we invest in and the stories we tell about ourselves.”Hugh Jackman

An A24-backed take on the classic folklore, the film stars Hugh Jackman as a battle-worn Robin Hood grappling with a lifetime of crime and murder. After being injured in a brutal fight, he finds himself in an isolated priory under the care of a mysterious woman (played by Comer). Alongside Jackman and Comer, the dark adaptation boasts a powerhouse ensemble including Bill Skarsgård as Little John, Murray Bartlett, Faith Delaney, and Noah Jupe.

Last week, at the world premiere of The Death of Robin Hood in New York City, fans and critics gathered to see Hugh Jackman take on yet another surprising turn as the titular hero — or villain, rather. It’s clear that Jackman himself is ready for the world to see a different side of him. 

"THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD" RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.
"THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD" RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.
HUGH JACKMAN INTERVIEW AT "THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD" RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.
"THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD" RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.
“THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD” RED CARPET PREMIERE.
FROM TOP LEFT: HUGH JACKMAN AND SUTTON FOSTER, JODIE CROMER, BILL SKARSGÅRD.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF A24.

With a Canadian exclusive interview on the red carpet, we asked the Australian actor if inhabiting this broken version of Robin Hood made him re-examine his own career blueprint. Jackman was candid about this phase of his life.

 “I’ve spent my life, weirdly, being a storyteller in all different forms — music, song, stage, film,” Jackman mused. “But what I love so much about this is it’s almost a cautionary tale about the power of story and mythology: about the stories we believe, the ones we invest in and the stories we tell about ourselves.”

It’s his sheer vulnerability that strikes a chord on screen, a stark departure from his larger-than-life blockbusters. It’s a transformation he feels he couldn’t have pulled off until this exact moment in his life.

“I don’t think I was ready before now to do a film like this,” Jackman admitted. “Maybe my age? Yeah, I think there was something just a feeling of letting go in me, as well as in the character. We found each other at the right time.”

"THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD" RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.
HUGH JACKMAN AND JODIE COMER AT “THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD” RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.

And as for busting the ultimate myth about Hugh Jackman himself? The actor laughed off his spotless reputation with a wry grin: “I’m not always nice. A lot of the time.”

Jackman isn’t the only one shattering expectations in this film. The Death of Robin Hood thrives on a supporting cast dedicated to defying the boxes Hollywood tries to put them in.

Known for his terrifyingly chameleonic transformations, Bill Skarsgård takes on the role of Little John — though not the jolly giant you remember. Director Michael Sarnoski reportedly described this version of the character as a “murder baby.”

“Everything might not be entirely right with Little John, mentally,” Skarsgård explained. “But he was sort of adopted by Robin Hood… in a story that we don’t see in the movie, but that we feel.”

BILL SKARSGARD AT "THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD" RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.
FROM LEFT: BILL SKARSGÅRD, FAITH DELANEY, MICHAEL SARNOSKI, HUGH JACKMAN.
“THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD” RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.

For Skarsgård, the grit of the film aligns perfectly with his career ethos. “I like to try to do different characters every time I do work. I want to try to fight the industry putting me in whatever box, and try to reinvent myself with every role.”

The brilliant Murray Bartlett also graced the carpet, speaking fondly of the unique, meditative challenge the film presented. Working under Sarnoski’s soulful direction meant stripping away the usual tools of an actor’s trade as he plays the Leper, completely mummified with only his eyes as a gateway.

“It was a really beautiful challenge to not have my face or body really to use for expression, to just have [my] eyes,” Bartlett shared. “There’s something about that that makes you feel a lot more still… you just focus on the words, you focus on what’s happening with the other actor. There’s a kind of freedom in there.”

HUGH JACKMAN INTERVIEW AT "THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD" RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.
HUGH JACKMAN INTERVIEW AT "THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD" RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.
HUGH JACKMAN INTERVIEW AT "THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD" RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.
TOP LEFT: MICHAEL SARNOSKI, FAITH DELANEY, HUGH JACKMAN.
TOP RIGHT: JODIE CROMER, MURRAY BARTLETT.
BOTTOM: HUGH JACKMAN.
“THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD” RED CARPET PREMIERE.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF A24. HUGH JACKMAN

Ultimately, The Death of Robin Hood forces us to confront what happens when the myths we carry finally outlive their usefulness. While the film smartly dismantles centuries of folklore, its truest triumph is providing the canvas for Hugh Jackman’s striking creative rebirth. By letting go of the pristine showman archetype and embracing the raw and weary reality of this broken hero, Jackman is rewriting his own professional blueprint and has never been more thrillingly unpredictable.

The Death of Robin Hood is in theatres Friday, June 19th.

FEATURE IMAGE: HUGH JACKMAN INTERVIEW AT “THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD” RED CARPET PREMIERE. PHOTO COURTESY OF A24.