Sean Bean is returning to the medieval world — but this time, he’s not a fallen lord of Westeros. The Game of Thrones legend has traded swords and sigils for a badge of authority in a bold new 10-part epic from MGM+, Robin Hood. But forget everything you think you know about the legend. This time, the story isn’t told through the eyes of the outlaw. It’s the Sheriff of Nottingham — played by Bean — who takes the spotlight.

A New Take on a Classic Legend

The series, set to premiere on November 2, 2025, promises to reinvent one of the most iconic tales in English folklore. Rather than painting the Sheriff as a simple villain, Robin Hood turns him into a complex, morally conflicted figure — part enforcer, part survivor — navigating the chaos of Norman England.

Bean’s Sheriff is no pantomime tyrant. He’s a man burdened by loyalty, politics, and a vision of order that clashes violently with the rebellion forming around Robin Hood. Power-hungry, calculating, and at times disturbingly noble, he becomes the dark heart of a story that’s as much about ideology as it is about archery and adventure.

The Cast and Storyline

Joining Sean Bean is Connie Nielsen (Gladiator, The Devil’s Advocate) as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine — a role that brings royal intrigue and sharp political tension into the series.

Jack Patten takes on the role of Robin Hood, while Lauren McQueen stars as Marian, a Norman noblewoman whose forbidden romance with Robin ignites both rebellion and tragedy. Their love story — passionate, dangerous, and defiant — runs through the center of the show, giving emotional depth to the bloody conflict.

Behind them stands an ensemble cast of allies and enemies:

Steven Waddington as the Earl of Huntingdon,

Lydia Peckham as Priscilla of Nottingham,

and a band of familiar faces — Friar Tuck, Little John, Will Scarlet — reimagined for a darker, more grounded age.

Power, Passion, and Politics

Unlike past adaptations that romanticized Sherwood Forest, this Robin Hood dives headfirst into the brutal reality of 12th-century England. The Norman Conquest still casts its shadow, and class divides run deep between the conquerors and the conquered. The Sheriff represents control and hierarchy; Robin stands for rebellion and freedom.

But the series doesn’t take easy sides. Every act of heroism has a price, every rebellion breeds corruption, and even the noblest cause hides self-interest. In that moral grey zone, Bean’s Sheriff thrives — a man convinced he’s preserving order while the world burns around him.

A Cinematic World Built for Modern Audiences

Filmed across striking landscapes in Serbia and Eastern Europe, Robin Hood embraces the grit and grandeur of medieval storytelling. The forests are dense and unforgiving, the castles cold and shadowed, and the battle scenes raw and visceral.

Showrunners promise a mix of “historical authenticity and emotional realism,” with large-scale conflicts matched by intimate political and romantic drama. Every sword clash and whispered betrayal is designed to echo the power struggles of both the past and the present.

“The Boldest Medieval Drama Since Braveheart”

Early reactions from industry insiders suggest Robin Hood could be one of 2025’s most ambitious TV events. With its sweeping scope, conflicted characters, and Sean Bean commanding the screen as a morally ambiguous anti-hero, the series is already being compared to Game of Thrones and Braveheart.

But at its core, Robin Hood isn’t about heroes or villains. It’s about survival — about people caught in systems bigger than themselves, fighting for power, justice, and love in a world that gives none freely.

The Final Word

When Sean Bean dons armor, you know things are about to get serious. And in Robin Hood, he’s not just part of the legend — he is the legend, reshaped for a new age.

With its blend of passion, betrayal, and political ambition, this ten-part saga could redefine the way audiences see one of history’s most enduring tales.

Robin Hood premieres November 2, 2025, exclusively on MGM+, with two episodes debuting on opening night and new episodes each week through December.