Credit: Variety
Universal has bought out and nabbed Nottingham, a spec script from the creators of TV’s “Sleeper Cell”; the deal will reunite Russell Crowe with Imagine Entertainment.
Crowe will receive $20 million against 20% to star as the Sheriff of Nottingham in this revisionist version of the Robin Hood story; screenwriters Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris will receive seven figures for the script.
Imagine’s Brian Grazer will produce the film, and he expects shooting to start at the end of the year or early 2008.
Nottingham is based on the premise that Robin Hood was less virtuous and the sheriff more noble than previously depicted. Story also involves a love triangle between Robin Hood, Maid Marion and Nottingham’s sheriff.
For Imagine Entertainment, Crowe stars in the upcoming American Gangster with Denzel Washington. He also toplined Cinderella Man and A Beautiful Mind.
Next for Crowe is 3:10 to Yuma, which opens Oct. 12.
