The Uprising marketing surprises fans with late Robin Hood pivot
A new promotional push for Andrew Garfield's upcoming film 'The Uprising' has left potential viewers scratching their heads. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Focus Features began marketing the Paul Greengrass-directed period piece with a new subtitle this week, calling it 'The Rise of Robin Hood' mere weeks ahead of its September 10 release.
Garfield stars as a character known as 'Ploughman' in a story set during the 1381 English Peasants' Revolt. A fresh plot synopsis now frames the film as being "set against the true events of the Uprising that helped inspire the legend of Robin Hood." This late reveal surprised fans who expected a straightforward historical drama about the revolt and its leader, Wat Tyler.
TheWrap notes the marketing has created confusion, as the film's UK distributor, Entertainment Film Distributors, has stated the movie is "not Robin Hood" and that their campaign makes no reference to the folk hero. This contradiction leaves it unclear whether the film is a historical account, a Robin Hood origin story, or a blend of both.
According to JoBlo, signs of the Robin Hood connection existed earlier, including the film's working title from 2022, 'The Hood.' The character name 'Ploughman' also has a literary link to a 14th-century poem that contains an early reference to Robin Hood.
Social media reaction, covered by THR, has ranged from disappointment from history buffs to sheer confusion over mixing fact and fiction. The move also makes 'The Uprising' the second Robin Hood-adjacent film this year, following the Hugh Jackman-starring 'The Death of Robin Hood' from A24.
