Russell Crowe to Play Comedy Legend Bill Hicks?

Bill Hicks | Russell Crowe

Ridley Scott’s Nottingham has been pushed back indefinitely but at least until Spring but star Russell Crowe not wait. Instead, he’s trying to get underway with a new biopic of achingly cool comedy legend Bill Hicks.

For those of you not in the know, Hicks was one of the smartest, most acerbic comedians of the 80s and early 90s, who struggled with drink and drugs before getting his career back on track - only to fall victim to cancer at just 32 years old. Despite his tragically young death, he lived long enough and worked hard enough to influence pretty much every comedian since, and has been paid tribute in everything from The Simpsons to the comic series Preacher.

The Oscar winner said it would be at least seven months before the film gets off the ground in England, allowing him to spend more time at his Woolloomooloo home with wife, Danielle Spencer, and sons, Charlie, 4, and Tennyson, 2, and working on other projects.

“More time in Australia is always a bonus,” Crowe said last week.

“I have another project based on the life of comedian Bill Hicks, which is going from treatment to draft stage with Kiwi writer Mark Staufer.”

Yes, New Zealander Mark Staufer is scripting, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Read the rest of this entry

Sam Riley will play Robin Hood in Ridley Scott’s ”Nottingham”

Christian Bale was in talks to appear as Robin Hood or that was just a rumor. New information, according to Latino Review is that Sam Riley will play Robin Hood in Ridley Scott’s ”Nottingham.”

Russell Crowe, who will also star in ”Nottingham” was impressed with Riley’s performance in the Ian Curtis biopic ”Control” and wants to cast him as the infamous outlaw although Scott was very eager to cast Bale in the role.

Sienna Miller will play Maid Marion in the drama that focuses on the Sheriff of Nottingham (Russell Crowe) as a noble and brave lawman who labors for a corrupt king and engages in a love triangle with Marion and Robin Hood.

Actors who have previously played Robin Hood on film include Errol Flynn, Sean Connery and Kevin Costner.

Sam Riley’s screen credits include guest spots on police procedural drama ”Law & Order” and the upcoming ”Franklyn.”

Christian Bale as Robin Hood in Ridley Scott’s ”Nottingham”?

Christian Bale is in talks to appear as Robin Hood in Ridley Scott’s revisionist take on the story entitled ”Nottingham,” according to UK’s Daily Mail.

If Bale takes on the role, he will be part of a menage a trois that also includes Russell Crowe as the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sienna Miller as Maid Marion.

While Bale hasn’t signed on just yet, Scott is very eager to cast the actor in the role.

Wardrobe fittings begin next week, so expect an announcement about Bale’s involvement to come out before then.

Vanessa Redgrave and William Hurt are also in discussions about being in the film.

Sienna Miller joins Russell Crowe in Robin Hood tale

Sienna Miller has been added to ”Nottingham” and she will star opposite Russell Crowe in the Robin Hood tale.

Ridley Scott is the director of the movie which is based on a script by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris.

Miller will play Maid Marion in the drama that focuses on the Sheriff of Nottingham (Russell Crowe) as a noble and brave lawman who labors for a corrupt king and engages in a love triangle with Marion and Robin Hood.

”Nottingham” is scheduled to hit theaters on November 6th, 2009.

Sienna Miller currently has a role of the Baroness in “G.I. Joe” and we can see her in upcoming “The Edge of Love” and “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh.”