Rediscovering the Legend of Robin Hood with Jack Patten, Lauren McQueen, and Lydia Peckham
The legend of Robin Hood has been told and retold for centuries, but the latest TV adaptation breathes new life into the timeless outlaw tale. Cast members Jack Patten (Rob), Lauren McQueen (Marian), and Lydia Peckham (Priscilla) opened up about the emotional depth, powerful character arcs, and layered relationships that define this reimagined take on the myth.
At the heart of the story lies Rob, a young man wrestling with loss, legacy, and identity. Patten describes his character’s journey as one deeply rooted in grief and internal conflict:
“Rob definitely goes inward after losing his father,” Patton explains. “He’s caught between wanting to live peacefully in the forest with Marian and seeking revenge. As an outlaw being hunted, it’s very much a day-at-a-time existence.”
That tension between stillness and fury, love and vengeance drives Rob’s evolution. Patten says much of that came through the physical side of the performance, from archery to horseback training in Serbia:
“I spent just as much time on the physical work as I did the script. The bow, the horses, the combat, all of that helped me become the character.”
But it’s Rob’s emotional battles that give the series its grounding. One of Patten’s most resonant moments comes from a scene with his on-screen mother:
“She tells him, ‘Your emotions aren’t a burden, they’re a shield.’ That line stayed with me. It’s something I carried through every episode.”
For Lauren McQueen, Marian’s transformation was a key draw. Starting as a sheltered young woman constrained by an oppressive household, she blossoms into someone self-assured and powerful.
“She grows from this innocent, inexperienced girl into a woman who finds her own voice,” McQueen shares. “Meeting Rob opens her eyes to a world of possibilities.”
McQueen approached Marian’s evolution through subtle changes in posture and presence:
“At first, she avoids eye contact and holds herself small. But as her confidence grows, she stands taller, more sure of who she is.”
Marian also finds mentorship in Queen Eleanor, played by Connie Nielsen, a character McQueen calls “a role model unlike anyone Marian has ever had.”
“She’s navigating a world of power plays and politics, and Eleanor becomes this guiding light for her.”
Lydia Peckham’s Priscilla brings wit and cunning to the series, a character underestimated by those around her but always several steps ahead.
“She’s the sheriff’s heir, which was rare for a woman in that era,” Peckham says. “Her father encourages her intellect, but when she challenges him, she’s reminded of her place.”
Navigating a male-dominated environment, Priscilla learns to use perception as her greatest weapon:
“She’s savvy because she has to be. People dismiss her, but she uses that to her advantage.”
Peckham credits the show’s detailed world building from costuming to choreography for helping her inhabit Priscilla’s presence:
“The guards moving out of the way, the scarlet and purple costumes, all of it gives her this aura of control. You can’t help but walk differently.”
Beyond the individual performances, Robin Hood thrives on connection,both romantic and platonic. The bond between Rob and Marian is portrayed as something destined, while Marian and Priscilla’s friendship brings warmth and humor to the chaos.
“We became real-life friends before filming,” McQueen reveals. “That made those scenes between Priscilla and Marian feel so authentic.”
Peckham adds, “They’re like yin and yang, different upbringings, different temperaments but full of love underneath it all.”
With all of this Robin Hood reclaims the legend for a new generation, not just as a hero’s tale, but as a deeply human one.
