Cate Blanchett as Crowe's New Maid Marian?

Last month, Sienna Miller was taken out of the cast of the upcoming Nottingham, Ridley Scott's Robin Hood redux starring Russell Crowe. (Dig that lazy near-alliteration...) At the time there was speculation that Crowe wanted Miller droppend from the cast because he was so fat he'd look like a whale against her in love scenes. We doubted then that it was true and if this news holds, then it means Ridley and Russell wanted more substance in the role. The Telegraph quotes co-star Mark Strong (Body of Lies) as saying that Cate Blanchett might be the new Maid Marian. "She is a wonderful actress and it would make it a much classier film if she was in it," Strong said at the London Film Critics' Circle Awards this week. I don't believe that "classier" business is a dig at Miller in any way, simply that if you can get Cate Blanchett, you get Cate Blanchett. There's no doubting that if she's cast, it would certainly raise interest in a movie that has been battered by rumors and rescheduling. With Crowe still lined up to play both Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham, the addition of Blanchett makes it that much more compelling.

Comments

[Layne]

It'll be so great to have an actress of Cate Blanchett's caliber with an actor of Russell Crowe's caliber. This movie will be worth the wait!

[sunseeker]

If Cate Blanchett takes this role it will be a very good film, Cate and Russell are both terrific actors. I personally think that Miss Miller was never the best choice. Can't see her as Maid Marion.

[SunnyDayz]

I don't think anyone can call Sienna Miller classy, so while Strong may not have had intended to insult her, I think the comparison was in his subconscious choice of words, and I agree with him.

Miller has shot herself in the foot with her well publicized antics and is not well perceived by the public. While the film Nottingham may have moved in another direction [with the publicized re-writes] since she was originally hired, I also think she might have been accommodated had she not turned herself into a liability. Actors play against type and age often. Crowe has played many ages in films as has Blanchett.. that's what make up departments are for.

Millers release from the film had nothing to do with Crowe [who is again looking quite fit ] and everything to do with her image.

[john]

very good news . Russell crowe and Cate Blanchett

[Lengthy Johnson]

To avoid piling more onto Sienna Miller, I'd say that the whole thing depends on what type of role Marion is supposed to be.

Sienna Miller worked quite well in Casanova and Stardust where she played a difficult woman in both films.

Cate Blanchett could of course bring a lot more to the role and she could slow play against Crowe, where Miller probably would have raised her pitch.

Of course, Blanchett can be quite cold so we'd probably see a more awkward love story with her as Marion.

Nevermind the actors, this is the project that will let us know if Ridley Scott still has got it. The start is a bit shaky.