Gritty ‘Robin Hood: Origins’ Casts Jamie Foxx as Gritty Little John

Jamie Foxx didn’t have such a great 2014, but the actor is back after taking a little time off and he has a few promising new projects, including a role in Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver and the U.S. remake of French action flick Sleepless Night. While we wait for the Jamie Foxx renaissance to commence, the actor has added another interesting film to his to-do list, lining up a role opposite Taron Egerton in Lionsgate’s gritty Robin Hood: Origins.

According to Deadline, Foxx has signed on to play Little John in Robin Hood: Origins, joining Kingsman: The Secret Service breakout Taron Egerton, who is primed to become kind of a big deal. Egerton is reprising his role as Eggsy in Kingsman 2, and appears opposite Hugh Jackman in Eddie the Eagle, the upcoming ski movie that’s already generating very positive buzz.

Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders) is directing Robin Hood: Origins, which also stars The Knick’s Eve Hewson as Maid Marian and tells the story of the titular young hero’s beginnings in a “gritty revisionist” take on the source material. As such, Foxx’s Little John won’t be the jovial character with whom readers / viewers are familiar, but a “battle-hardened” and “war-weary veteran” who fought against Robin Hood in the Crusades, and although he’s initially skeptical of the noble protagonist, he eventually comes around.

Following his acclaimed role in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, Foxx didn’t have the best run of roles. In 2014, he appeared in Horrible Bosses 2, Annie and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (not to mention that cameo in A Million Ways to Die in the West) — none of which particularly impressed critics or audiences. Thankfully, his upcoming roles are all far more promising and way more intriguing.

Robin Hood: Origins was recently dealt a bit of a setback, as Egerton’s commitments to the Kingsman sequel caused a slight delay in production. The film will now begin shooting later this year for a 2017 release date.