It seems like only yesterday that we had the last good Robin Hood movie, but then you remember that Kevin Costner is old, balding, and considerably less famous and reality sets in. In fact it’s been more than fifteen years since Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, more than long enough for Hollywood to consider revisiting the classic story of an outlaw robbing from the rich to give to the poor.

Variety say that a new take is in the works, with Russell Crowe as the guy starring in it. Except Russell won’t play Robin Hood, but rather the Sheriff of Nottingham. Don’t think for a minute he’ll be doing his best Alan Rickman impression. Continuing the never ending obsession with tearing down heroes and deconstructing myths, in Crowe’s movie the Sheriff of Nottingham isn’t such a bad guy and Robin Hood is kind of a dick.

Also in the mix is a love triangle involving Robin, Maid Marion, and the Sheriff. Let’s hope it doesn’t turn into a threesome. Russell Crowe’s heaving buttocks in a sex scene are more than enough male stuff.

It’s being written by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris. Here’s how Reiff describes the Sheriff: “He's trying to do the right thing, but he's up against Robin Hood, who's becoming heroic while not necessarily acting in the nicest way.” There's no director attachment yet, though Bryan Singer, Sam Raimi and Jon Turteltaub were all at one point interested. Universal expect to start shooting the pic in 2008.

Call me crazy, but I’d rather see Russell playing a really villainous version of the Sheriff. At least that would be something different from him. I’m getting tired of rooting for him to punch/stab/shoot/outsmart/out-slapshot people. Let’s see the real Russell on screen. You know, the one who’s a total jerk. That Russell would be a perfect Sheriff of Nottingham.