Release Date: October 17, 2024
Blending fantasy, environmental themes, and childhood wonder, Robin and the Hoods: Guardians of the Forest offers a fresh twist on the Robin Hood legend. Directed by Philip Hawkins (The Horse: A Christmas Tale) and starring alumni from Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, this family-friendly adventure is already generating Oscar buzz.
Official Trailer
Watch the enchanting teaser for Robin and the Hoods: Guardians of the Forest here.
Plot: Where Imagination Meets Activism
The story follows 11-year-old Robin (Darcy Ewart), a spirited girl who transforms an abandoned forest clearing into a magical kingdom with her friends—the self-proclaimed “Hoods.” Using sticks as swords, trash-can lids as shields, and drones as “majestic eagles,” their playground becomes a battleground when a greedy developer (Naomie Harris) threatens to replace the woods with a luxury resort.
As Robin faces real-world challenges—a new school, a soon-to-arrive baby sibling, and dismissive adults—she learns to balance idealism with compromise. The film masterfully shifts between the children’s imaginative world (where a local hippie activist becomes a terrifying “forest witch”) and their fight against corporate exploitation.
Cast & Characters
Naomie Harris as CEO Eleanor Voss
The Oscar-nominated star of Moonlight and James Bond films plays the morally ambiguous developer. Harris told Variety her character “believes she’s improving lives—until she meets these kids.”
Gwendoline Christie as The Willow Woman
The Game of Thrones alum (Brienne of Tarth) brings depth to an eccentric environmental activist initially feared by the Hoods. Christie’s performance has already sparked awards speculation.
Mark Williams as Mayor Tom Buckley
Best known as Arthur Weasley in Harry Potter, Williams portrays a conflicted politician torn between progress and preservation.
Darcy Ewart as Robin
The breakout star, previously seen in The Horse: A Christmas Tale, delivers a revelatory performance. Director Hawkins calls her “a young Saoirse Ronan in the making.”
Director: Philip Hawkins’ Vision
The British filmmaker, known for his award-winning Star Wars: The Beginning fan film, aimed to “capture the raw creativity of childhood.” Shooting in England’s Lake District, Hawkins used practical effects for 70% of the fantasy sequences, including a stunning treehouse city built by Lord of the Rings designers.
Behind the Scenes: 5 Fascinating Facts
- Festival Darling: Winner of Best Family Film at the Schlingel International Film Festival.
- Personal Roots: Screenwriter Stuart Benson drew from his childhood experience of losing a playground to developers.
- Environmental Message: The production planted 1,000 trees to offset its carbon footprint.
- Double Filming: Scenes were shot twice—once realistically, once fantastically—then merged in post-production.
- Cameo Alert: Look for Harry Potter’s Mark Williams improvising a line about “Muggle construction permits.”
Final Verdict
Robin and the Hoods: Guardians of the Forest succeeds as both a whimsical adventure and a poignant commentary on environmental stewardship. With its stellar cast and inventive storytelling, it’s poised to become a family classic.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Now playing in theaters worldwide.